Enzo Maresca's style is “boring” and “not what Chelsea are looking for”, says the former Premier League star
Enzo Maresca's playing style has been branded “boring” as his potential appointment at Chelsea approaches.
Maresca is the last pep guardiola disciple to be linked with a higher job, since he and Vincent Kompany, heading to Bayern Munich Look to follow in Mikel Arteta's footsteps to take on a major role.
talkSPORT understands Chelsea want to appoint Maresca as Mauricio Pochettino's successor on the Stamford Bridge bench, after the coach's surprise departure a week ago.
Chelsea They have been linked with a host of managers since then but appear to have settled on Maresca after he led Leicester back to the Premier League by winning the Championship title.
It was an interesting season for the Foxes, who threatened to blow a 20-point lead by losing their way midway through the season.
They eventually regained their composure and form and finished at the top of the second division with 97 points.
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However, concerns about his manager have arisen throughout the campaign, with former Premier League midfielder Darren Ambrose having major doubts over his Proposed appointment at Chelsea.
“I just think they hope he has learned from Pep – everyone is looking for the next Mikel Arteta,” the talkSPORT presenter said on The sports bar.
“I know some Leicester fans, they won the championship and they were still criticizing the way they played.
“They pass you to death, this Leicester team, they pass everyone off the pitch, but it's a bit boring. “I don't think that's what Chelsea are looking for.”
Maresca began his coaching career in city of manchester as coach of their development team, where he led young City to the Premier League 2 title, but left to become manager of Parma in Serie B, where he was sacked after six months.
The 44-year-old then returned to City in June 2022 to become one of Guardiola's assistant coaches and was appointed at Leicester in June 2023.
former Chelsea striker Carlton Cole admits that the young manager will take on perhaps one of the most difficult jobs in the Premier League, with the challenge of getting his expensive team playing and continuing the good work that Pochettino started before his departure.
And he also doubts the deal, saying it is a “massive call” and a big risk for Chelsea to hire a relatively unproven manager at the top level.
However, Simon Jordan believes that this could be the perfect time for Chelsea to make the risky appointment with the 'beasts' coaches of the Premier League on their way out.
“Although on paper people might doubt this move, in the Premier League we now have a division that is starting to change again, because the big beasts are starting to disappear,” said the White and Jordan host.
“Jurgen Klopp has left, it is rumoured, and I think it will probably be true, that Guardiola will leave at the end of next season, you look around and ask where the managerial beasts of the division are.
“We don't know what Arne Slot will be like, Unai Emery is a decent coach at Aston Villa, but is he an elite coach? Mikel Arteta will probably be the one who comes out of the mix and begins to be the great beast of the Premier League, in terms of the progression of his team.
“But I think Chelsea are building something. They have a group of young players and even Mykhailo Mudryk looks like a similar player to the one they bought for £88m, so I'm optimistic about Chelsea.
“Maresca came to Leicester and did the job he had been hired to do. A lot of people praised Kompany for coming up with Burnley last year with 100 points, Maresca just came up with 97 points and they had a big wobble.
“I get tired of these ideas that just because you once worked with someone it automatically means you're going to be the sorcerer's apprentice; It's a lazy way of looking at things.
“But I like the job he has done at Leicester and I think there must be some reflection behind the reasons why Chelsea are taking this path.
“Chelsea after a stinking season in which they were so poor at times, finishing sixth and six points off a Champions League place and having come so close to beating Man City in an FA Cup semi-final and winning the Cup Carabao. Lastly, there are many reasons why this guy is getting a decent job.
“And if you understand your place in the food chain and how it works, you could (be successful).
“But if they make a mistake, they (Chelsea's hierarchy) must be held accountable. If they bring Maresco in and he turns out to be a failure, they will have to leave too. If you make mistakes and keep making the same mistakes, then it's your fault, not the people you employ.”