“You’re not going to play” – Enzo Maresca shows his arrogance towards new Chelsea players

Enzo Maresca hasn’t been at Chelsea for five minutes and has never previously managed a top-flight club, yet still thought it appropriate to show his arrogance towards the Blues new players.

The Italian is certainly making a name for himself at Stamford Bridge, and he’ll be hoping that results and performance levels quickly align with his ambitions.

If not, he is working for an organisation that have shown their ruthlessness where managers are concerned.

Maresca arguably has one of the toughest jobs in the Premier League.

Enzo Maresca making a rod for his own back at Chelsea

Overseeing a bloated and young squad, with many players who are on multi-year contracts, he needs to succeed where the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino weren’t allowed to.

None were given enough time by the powers that be at the club to get any sort of continuity.

Players were sold from underneath them, others brought in when seemingly not wanted, transfer windows have been a joke in many respects… frankly it’s a recipe for disaster.

Notwithstanding that it now seems that the owners are at loggerheads too.

In any event, CaughtOffside columnist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, has noted Maresca’s words on X, and it seems he’s no respecter of reputations.

?? Maresca reveals: “I spoke with Sancho and Joao Felix when they joined and I told them: if you come here and don’t work properly, then you’re not going to play”.

“Before they arrived the message for them was clear”. pic.twitter.com/FFweonNGVF

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 14, 2024

“I spoke with Sancho and Joao Felix when they joined and I told them: if you come here and don’t work properly, then you’re not going to play,” he was quoted as saying.

“Before they arrived the message for them was clear.”

It’s an incredibly brave statement for the manager to make so soon into his career at Stamford Bridge.

Whilst one can understand the need for Maresca to flex his authority, he’s making a rod for his own back if he thinks such threats are likely to have the desired effect.

As was seen with the Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell decisions, however, the manager has no desire to be ‘Mr. Popular.’