Enzo Maresca was appointed as Chelsea’s head coach in the summer of 2024, during a period of transition after the departure of Mauricio Pochettino just when it looked like he was starting to build a strong team. The Blues had not managed to get their hands on silverware under the new ownership and it was the Italian coach who finally helped the club achieve that, leading them to back-to-back trophies last season with the UEFA Europa Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Chelsea currently have an impressive squad with some of the best young talents in world football. Every player is trying to make their mark in the team.
While the club are still improving on multiple fronts, on their day, they are capable of beating any side in the world, which was evident in their one-sided victory against PSG in the Club World Cup. The French club had won the Champions League final by a 5-0 scoreline just months back, and had defeated Real Madrid 4-0 in the semis in the previous match before facing the Blues.
Nevertheless, recently Maresca was asked to choose the best player he has ever coached. To this, the 45-year-old coach replied, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via The Chelsea Chronicle), “Cole Palmer,” while also showering praise on Marc Cucurella for being the most likeable.
Enzo Maresca names Chelsea player as the best he’s ever coached
Both Chelsea stars have played key roles in the club’s recent success. Palmer and Cucurella were among the standouts in Chelsea’s victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final and were praised for their performances.
Maresca had previously worked with Palmer at Manchester City as well during his time there. The England international joined the Blues for a fee of £40 million in 2023, which now looks like a bargain considering the quality he possesses.
Meanwhile, Palmer has had a quiet start to this season, largely due to a groin issue that does not seem to be going away. Despite this, the 23-year-old has already scored twice in just four appearances.
The Chelsea number 10 is currently sidelined and is expected to return to action in November, which will serve as a major boost for the Blues as they approach one of the busiest and most crucial periods of their campaign. Hopefully, he can remain fit after that and the groin issue becomes a thing of the past.