Winners and losers of Enzo Maresca to Chelsea

Cameron Smith

3 Jun 2024 15:11 BST
4 min read

Enzo Maresca, Leicester, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Chelsea have announced former Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca as their replacement for Mauricio Pochettino.

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The 44-year-old joined Leicester from Manchester City’s backroom staff last summer and he guided the Foxes to the Championship title during his debut campaign at the King Power Stadium.

His first full season in senior management impressed the Chelsea hierarchy and the Italian has now become the next Blues head coach.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the winners and losers of Maresca’s imminent appointment at Chelsea.

Winner - Enzo Maresca

Maresca himself is a huge winner after joining Chelsea on a five-year deal. He will be under massive pressure to deliver results, of course, but the Italian will be handed the opportunity to work with an extremely talented squad, most of whom are under the age of 25.

Chelsea have chopped and changed managers a lot since the start of the 21st century, a trend that hasn’t stopped under Clearlake Capital, but the Blues wanted to appoint a long-term manager and Maresca could be that guy.

He’ll need to perform, but the ex-Man City assistant manager has been handed a huge opportunity at one of the biggest clubs in world football.

Loser - Leicester City

Leicester have lost the manager who guided them to promotion and while many Foxes fans became bored with Maresca’s possession-heavy style of play, it’s evident that he transformed their team in a positive way.

Although they have received a reported €10 million in compensation for a manager whose system may not have worked in a Premier League relegation battle, Leicester are set to lose a talented manager and that isn’t the way they’d have hoped to start the summer window.

Winner - Man Utd

Manchester United are inadvertent beneficiaries from Maresca’s move to Chelsea. The Red Devils are likely to sack Erik ten Hag despite his win in the FA Cup final and with Chelsea seemingly opting to appoint Maresca, it gives Man Utd a great chance of securing a deal for someone like Roberto de Zerbi or even former Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Loser - Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher was one of Pochettino’s favourite players and he was the only Chelsea star to tally 50 appearances during the 2023-24 season. As a result, the Argentine’s exit came as a hammer blow to the 24-year-old.

Maresca may even be a fan of the England international, given his immense work rate, but the Blues are determined to sell Gallagher and the only way he seemingly would’ve stayed at Chelsea was if Pochettino urged the club to retain him.

With Maresca having no prior knowledge of working with Gallagher, it’s likely he will be sold to generate ‘pure profit.’

Winner - Reece James

Chelsea captain Reece James endured a torrid 2023-24 campaign, suffering multiple injury problems and receiving two red cards.

However, he will be hoping to fare far better next year and that is certainly a possibility under Maresca.

The Italian typically deploys a back four system, but in possession one full-back tucks into a back three, while the other moves into midfield. James is, of course, capable of operating in both of these positions and if he is selected in the former, it could reduce the risk of injury due to a less demanding role.

Loser - Roberto De Zerbi

Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton & Hove Albion following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season and was one of the contenders to replace Pochettino at Chelsea.

However, it seems as though Maresca is set to join the Blues instead, leaving De Zerbi with very few options.

He is a surprise candidate to take over at Man Utd, but it is not clear whether the Red Devils will make their interest more concrete, potentially favouring Thomas Tuchel or, as mentioned, Pochettino.

As a result and with the likes of Bayern and Barcelona having also recently filled their vacancies, De Zerbi may find himself out of work after choosing to leave Brighton for pastures new.