What Chelsea’s first few months under Maresca have taught us

A Resilient, Possession-Based Side

While possession football has become a hallmark of this new Chelsea era, their resilience in difficult situations stands out. Against Nottingham Forest, they went down 1-0, but unlike the previous season under Mauricio Pochettino, when conceding first led to a lack of attacking ideas, Chelsea kept their heads and found an instant equalizer. Maresca’s side didn’t just dominate possession; they created numerous opportunities and might have won the game if not for a standout performance from Forest’s goalkeeper, Matz Sels.

In contrast to the fragility of last season, Chelsea now have the ability to grind out results. The 1-0 win at Bournemouth, a game they likely wouldn’t have won last year, is a case in point. Their unbeaten record away from home in the Premier League is another indicator of a newfound resilience.

Player Development on an Upward Trajectory

Chelsea’s squad development under Maresca is another encouraging sign. Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella are prime examples of players flourishing in their roles. Colwill, at just 21, is emerging as a leader in the backline, consistently delivering line-breaking passes and making crucial defensive interventions, as seen in his stellar performance against Forest.

Similarly, Cucurella has been a revelation in the inverted fullback role. Building on his form from the Euros, the Spaniard has balanced his offensive and defensive responsibilities, an impressive turnaround from a challenging season under Pochettino.

Beyond these two, other players like Jadon Sancho, Nicolas Jackson, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo, Renato Veiga, and Noni Madueke have thrived in their roles. Cole Palmer, in particular, has been in record-breaking form, further reinforcing the belief that the entire squad is on an upward trajectory.