Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has claimed that he 'already feels that he knows all his players' ahead of starting work at the club's training ground.
At the start of June, the Blues confirmed that the Leicester City boss - who won the Championship title in his first season - had been chosen as the successor to Mauricio Pochettino, who departed by mutual consent two days after the end of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
The club's co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, as well as the recruitment team, have followed the appointment with the additions of several players, many of whom are youngsters with potential.
On the back of experienced Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo arriving on a free transfer, prospects Omari Kellyman and Marc Guiu signed from Aston Villa and Barcelona respectively, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has followed Maresca to West London in a £30m deal.
Maresca will now be expected to hit the ground running with Chelsea's hierarchy having ambition to regain a place in the Champions League at the very least.
He's here. pic.twitter.com/B315Rem2QO
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 8, 2024
'My idea is quite clear'
Having officially started his role on July 1, Maresca will now begin work with the squad at their Cobham training ground ahead of the club's pre-season tour of the United States.
Reports have indicated that one of the reasons that Maresca was brought into the dugout was his preference for possession-based football, a style favoured by Chelsea's powers-that-be.
In his first interview with the club's media team, the 44-year-old admitted as much, saying: "I think every manager has their own idea or style. Mine is quite clear.
"Last year was very good but that is finished. It's a new chapter, a new squad and a new club. I'm very happy to be here."
He added: "We are going to try to be an aggressive team on the ball and off the ball and we need to create this connection between the fans and the club, especially at home."
© Reuters
Maresca also gave an insight into his preparation for the role, revealing to what extent that he had researched the players at his disposal.
"It's very important because we need to know each other," Maresca said: "I already feel I know all of them to be honest because I've watched so many games in the last two or three weeks. So feel I know all of them.
"But it's always different when you spend day by day with the person. You can see them through games but when you spend day by day with the players, with the human beings, the people, you receive a different kind of feeling."
What now for Chelsea and Maresca?
The main focus for Chelsea's pre-season is the tour of the USA, the first game across the pond taking place against Wrexham on July 24.
Until then, Maresca will work with his players on the training ground, aware that others will return from international duty at different moments due to representing their respective nations at Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
Darren Plant
