I played with Enzo Maresca at Leicester, he's very passionate – here's what Chelsea fans can expect

Chelsea fans can expect a lot of passion and commitment from new manager Enzo Maresca.

That is the opinion of the former Leicester City winger Marc Albrighton, who worked with the Italian during the Foxes' Championship title-winning campaign last season.

Maresca landed the Leicester job in 2023 after a stint as Pep Guardiola's assistant manager during Manchester City's historic treble-winning season.

The 44-year-old guided the Foxes to automatic promotion at the first question following their relegation 12 months earlier.

His heroic acts in the East Midlands got him a move to west London with Chelsea eager to give Maresca his first chance to manage a top six club.

Fan favorite Albrighton managed just 18 appearances in all competitions for Maresca during his final year at the King Power Stadium, however the 34-year-old gave a glowing description of his former manager and listed the attributes he will bring to Chelsea.

“I think you can expect someone who is very passionate about the way he plays,” the 2016 Premier League title winner told talkSPORT. “From the day he arrived at Leicester, he worked on this way of playing and throughout the time it was there, we never got away from it.

“Every exercise we did in training was based on the positions from which he wanted to develop.

“They can expect passion and commitment. She was at the training ground from early morning until night. He was always the last to arrive.

“He will give everything for that job because he loves football. He loves the style of play and new ideas.

“With the job he has and the opportunity, he will try everything in his power to make it work.”

Maresca will be Chelsea's fourth permanent manager since an ownership group led by Todd Boehly took control of the club in May 2022.

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Chelsea look set to change their scattershot approach to coaching after handing the Italian a huge five-year contract.

However, Albrighton believes Maresca must quickly impose himself on both the players and the hierarchy to help unite the club as quickly as possible.

“He goes to a club where there are many players to keep happy,” he added. “I know what a football locker room is like, and a lot of times that's half the battle to keep everyone happy.

“If you can keep everyone on your side doing the right things, then you're already halfway there.

“They (the club bosses) will also have to impose themselves in that aspect.” “It is a huge job for him, but after the season he has had with Leicester City, he will feel that he deserves that promotion.”

Chelsea begin the season with the difficult task of hosting the current champions, Manchester City.

Before that, however, they will get an idea of ​​where they stand when they meet in a pre-season friendly on August 3. Leicester, for its part, will face Tottenham.