“That was the easiest press conference of my life.”
Enzo Maresca was a happy man after completing his first media duties as Chelsea head coach. The debut press conference is usually a high pressure situation, with the new man being peppered with searching questions in a packed room at Stamford Bridge, as he tries to set the tone for what is to come.
But Maresca had a much more gentle introduction at Levi’s Stadium, the home of NFL side San Francisco 49ers, ahead of Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against League One Wrexham. Given it happened at 2am UK time, many fans will have been fast asleep when it happened.
Perhaps if Enzo Fernandez had not foolishly decided to livestream himself and some Argentina team-mates singing an offensive song after winning the Copa America, Maresca would have got the grand unveiling treatment back in London last week. But he certainly seemed to prefer it this way, even though he was rightfully still probed about Fernandez’s behaviour.
His press conference may only have lasted 10 minutes, but when combined with the two-hour open training session at nearby Stanford Stadium beforehand, this was an intriguing opportunity to see how Maresca will tackle a project that has proved too tough for Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium bought the club in May 2022.
The feedback coming out of the Chelsea camp over Maresca’s training sessions at their Cobham base had been positive, even before the squad flew into San Francisco on Monday night.
While a source close to senior players, who shall not be named to protect relationships, told The Athletic that Pochettino is missed by a sizeable contingent, Maresca has been making an impact on them already. Another described how much Maresca wants the vast majority of his session to involve the ball. That may sound like stating the obvious, but there are coaches in pre-season that will put squad members through intense drills without it in the pursuit of improving fitness. Neither is Maresca one to flog the group with double sessions just for the sake of it. But as another insider suggested, the 44-year-old “has an aura about him”.
Enzo Maresca has made his presence felt in Chelsea training sessions (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
At Stanford Stadium, Maresca initially kept a low profile as the players got into small groups and did some basic possession drills. The assistant coaches watched over them while Maresca paced the middle of the pitch intently, not saying a word. His first words were actually for around 20 VIPS who were the only other outsiders allowed in to watch. The observers clearly liked what he had to say to them because they soon burst out in applause.
Once the warm-up was complete, Maresca took over. Loud, booming instructions were given ahead of, and then during, a passing drill which encouraged players to work the ball from back to front, against no defensive pressure, before getting off a shot or header.
Some managers like to get their assistants to run an exercise as they observe from the sidelines, but Maresca was centre-stage throughout, doing almost as much running as his pupils. The former Leicester coach even moved one of the mannequins into a new position rather than asking someone more junior to do it. The shouting, some of it encouragement, was incessant.
A more testing challenge saw those in blue kit being asked to break down the defensive press of those wearing orange bibs. There was an onus to get the ball wide to Noni Madueke and Raheem Sterling as much as possible. Operated in just one half of the pitch, it was clearly asking the players to break a congested defence down, starting with the defenders. It looked like preparation for what challenge Chelsea will face against unambitious opponents most weeks in the Premier League and UEFA Conference League.
Enzo Maresca oversees a drill where players try to break down a high defensive press (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
After a short break for a drink, those in orange got to do the attacking and vice versa. Players who were absent with injury for much if not all of last season — Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Reece James and Christopher Nkunku — were active throughout.
In heat reaching over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32C), no one can say Maresca went easy on them, yet the mood was breezy, with players smiling and laughing as training ended. Another sign of the feel-good factor was seeing co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart watching proceedings in a relaxed mood rather than being busy on the phone over a transfer deal.
No one should read too much into one training session, especially one so early in a manager’s reign, but at its conclusion, Maresca again stood out as he headed to the changing room alone, so deep in thought he barely acknowledged anyone else. Perhaps the impending press conference was now on his mind.
There is one thing guaranteed for all Chelsea head coaches — there will always be difficult questions to answer. Some like Jose Mourinho and Tuchel revel in this environment, whereas others — such as Potter — have looked and acted as if they cannot get out of the room fast enough.
Maresca would have been fully aware that he would be asked for his views on Fernandez, which has become a very early test of his man-management skills, and he certainly had a very serious look about him when walking to the top table.
Enzo Maresca had some awkward questions to answer in his first Chelsea press conference (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Sure enough, it was the first question he was served up. “It’s great the player did the statement to apologise,” he said. “The club did the same. There is nothing to add to the situation. It’s clear and clarified. I don’t think when Enzo is back, we will have any problems.”
One can understand the desire to keep the messaging simple and convey a desire to put it all in the past, but given the level of angst Fernandez’s actions caused behind the scenes, it might not be that simple. With Fernandez joining the group in the USA on July 29, we won’t have long to find out if he is right.
Next up was a rather vague reply to whether James is going to stay as Chelsea captain. “For sure, James will be one of the captains,” Maresca said. “He has already been in the past. I want him again to be one of the leaders of this team. I like players who take responsibility.” There is a big difference between being regarded as one of the leaders in the team and being asked to be the leader, though. Chalk that up as another issue in the unresolved column.
Surprisingly, it took a query about whether Chelsea’s terrible injury record in recent seasons could hinder his reign for him to break out into a big smile. “I always say the same,” he replied. “It’s difficult to judge the situation when you are inside. I don’t know what kind of problems they had. Fortunately, we started two weeks ago and didn’t have many problems. We will also try to manage that.” Chelsea feel they have made a number of good appointments with expertise to help and it does seem a case of so far so good, with Fofana, Lavia, James and Nkunku looking sharp yesterday.
Indeed, Nkunku was singled out for praise after one writer enquired how the France striker will be used. “He can play everywhere,” Maresca said. “He’s one of the players in these two weeks who is doing very, very well. He is taking the way we want to play. We will try to have players who can play in different positions (in attack).”
Chelsea’s players had an exacting session at Stanford yesterday (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella, Renato Veiga and James were all mentioned as potentially playing as inverted full-backs in the system Maresca used at Leicester last season — Ben Chilwell’s name was conspicuous in its absence here — plus the “sad” explanation why Trevoh Chalobah was left behind in the UK, which was because there are too many players above him in the pecking order, including 18-year-old academy graduate Josh Acheampong.
Maresca was given a five-year contract on being appointed last month, the same length of deal Potter was given and three more guaranteed years than Pochettino was handed last summer. The owners crave trophies and the return of Champions League football. The supporters feel the same. So will he deliver?
“The only thing I can say is that I am here for the same idea and target,” he said. “When you join a club like Chelsea, you have to try to win trophies or at least compete. When? I don’t know. Hopefully as soon as possible.”
It was no surprise that Maresca headed for the exit feeling pleased with how his first public outing at his new club had gone. It was a solid start, but he will be aware that there are going to be tougher days in the future.
(Top photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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