By Milcah Tanimu
Enzo Maresca has expressed his excitement about working with the Chelsea squad as he begins his second week as head coach at Cobham. Maresca, appointed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor last month, started his role officially last week. A handful of first-team players joined some academy talents at the club’s Surrey base, with more senior players set to join this week.
Chelsea will soon travel to the United States for their pre-season tour, offering fans the first glimpse of Maresca’s management. Four of the five new signings are expected to join the squad in America, with Estevao Willian remaining at Palmeiras until next summer. Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are anticipated to travel, and additional signings may join before the first pre-season match against Wrexham in Santa Clara, California.
Despite continuous transfer links, Maresca believes Chelsea already has a strong squad. In his first interview as head coach, he emphasized the talent within the team and the importance of creating the right culture for the season. “One of the reasons I’m here is because I’m convinced the squad is very good and full of talent,” Maresca stated. “The most important thing now is we’re able to create the right culture that drives us for the season.”
Maresca has been diligently working behind the scenes, analyzing player performance from youth to the first team. He underscored the importance of improving players daily to enhance the team’s overall performance. “If you are able to improve players, then you are able to improve the team. So it is our target to try to improve all of them day by day,” he added.
Although Maresca officially started his job only a week ago, he feels familiar with the players after watching many games in recent weeks. He highlighted the difference between observing players in games and working with them daily, emphasizing the deeper understanding gained through direct interaction.
