Enzo Maresca’s First Press Conference as Chelsea Manager
Enzo Maresca has completed his first press conference as Chelsea manager, offering insights into his plans for the team and clarifying the status of key players like Reece James and Ben Chilwell.
Reece James’ Role as Captain
In the press conference, Enzo Maresca addressed the captaincy of Reece James, affirming that James will remain “one of” Chelsea’s captains.
However, Maresca stopped short of confirming whether the injury-prone full-back will continue as the main skipper of the team.
Reece James, 24, was previously given the captain’s armband by former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino. Unfortunately, injuries limited James to only five Premier League starts last season.
Given these circumstances, some voices within the club believe a more consistently available player should be considered for the captaincy role.
Maresca’s careful wording on the issue drew attention: “For sure, he will be one of the captains,” Maresca stated. “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.”
Potential Leadership Alternatives
Maresca has several senior players to consider for a possible new outright captain. Among those seen as leadership figures are Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling.
Conor Gallagher also stepped up, wearing the armband during the extended absence of Chelsea’s full-backs last season.
However, Ben Chilwell’s future with Chelsea remains uncertain. Like James, Chilwell struggled with injuries last season, impacting his playtime significantly. Consequently, he was omitted from the England squad for the Euro 2024 final.
Speculation surrounds Chilwell’s potential departure from Stamford Bridge this summer, especially following Marc Cucurella’s impressive performance in the Euros and the recent acquisition of Renato Veiga from FC Basel.
Maresca’s Subtle Message on Chilwell
During his press conference, Maresca subtly suggested that Ben Chilwell might not be central to his tactical plans.
When discussing players suitable for the inverted full-back role—a strategy Maresca employed at Leicester—he named Marc Cucurella, Renato Veiga, Reece James, and Malo Gusto. Notably, Chilwell was not mentioned.
Although Chilwell was included in Chelsea’s squad for the pre-season tour of the USA, this decision contrasts with the situation of Trevoh Chalobah, who was excluded from the tour.
Trevoh Chalobah’s Uncertain Future
Trevoh Chalobah, who finished last season strongly, is reportedly eager to stay at Chelsea and compete for his place. However, Maresca indicated that Chalobah does not factor into his plans, opting instead to include teenage defender Josh Acheampong in the squad.
Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of leaving players out of pre-season activities, stating, “From my point of view it’s always sad to leave players out of pre-season. In the end, they work every day for the same target; to be part of the team.
We have Axel [Disasi] there, Tosin [Adarabioyo] there, Wesley [Fofana] is finally back, and some young players like Josh Acheampong. It’s a sad decision but we had to make it.”
Enzo Maresca’s First Press Conference as Chelsea Manager
