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| Enzo Maresca is Chelsea's choice as Mauricio Pochettino's replacement but, will the Blues be patient with him? (Photo credit: Sky Sports) |
Enzo Maresca is set to be named the new Chelsea coach with reports suggesting a long-term contract for the Leicester City manager.
The Blues endured a tough season under Argentine Mauricio
Pochettino who was shown the exit door right after the just concluded season
although, many felt bewildered considering Chelsea’s strong finish to the
campaign.
Chelsea finished 6th in the Premier League, securing
Europa League football before Manchester United kicked the Blues to the Europa
Conference League after Erik Ten Hag’s men beat Manchester City at Wembley in
this season’s FA Cup final.
Enzo Maresca led Leicester City to the Championship
trophy, helping them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking
after being relegated last season, he caught the eyes of many with his
attacking football, something he learned from Pep Guardiola.
The Italian manager is set to join Chelsea on an initial
five-year deal, which comes with an option of a one-year extension, indicating
that the club is interested in a project with a younger manager but, will they
be patient with him?
The project has proven to be a success at Arsenal, with
the club persisting with Mikel Arteta when the going was tough, winning a trophy
(the FA Cup) within the first few months of his employment helped but, the
owners’ patience through back-to-back 8th placed finish was
laudable.
This brings the million-dollar question, will Chelsea be
patient with Maresca? The Blues achieved success through the years on the hire
and fire strategy, will they be willing to give Maresca the time to find his
feet at the club?
Part of what Pochettino complained about was the signing
of many unwanted players, will they allow the Italian to pick his boys? Will he
have control in the transfer window? Will he be allowed to sign his type of
players and, bin whoever he feels doesn’t work for his system?
While the Mikel Arteta approach is now a benchmark, will
the manager be given the go ahead to axe any toxic element in his team? Regardless
of how much they club spent to bring in certain individuals, if the manager
feels they’re not good enough, will he be allowed to make the big decisions?
Fingers will be crossed as Enzo Maresca walks into the
Chelsea job, with many questions hanging in the air, one can only hope that the
ghosts of impatience won’t haunt him, as there is only one Pep Guardiola,
Chelsea must allow Maresca to be himself on the job.