Enzo Maresca has taken Chelsea in reverse, and that seems to be his intention, but the supporters dislike it, and Cole Palmer appears to feel the same way.
Back-to-back Premier League wins against relegation candidates Southampton and Leicester have not diminished the growing dislike for Enzo Maresca and his style of play among Chelsea supporters. They have observed how their initial identity as an energetic, counter-attacking team—and one of the league's top entertainers—has been replaced by a possession-oriented approach, as their cautious manager's philosophy begins to take effect.
“[Enzo} Fernandez understands that if he doesn’t track back, I will substitute him,” Maresca stated during his press conference, addressing the boos from the Stamford Bridge crowd when the midfielder chose to pass the ball backwards despite evident options in the lackluster 1-0 victory against Leicester.
Although fans were captivated by the back-and-forth pre-Christmas strategy that sparked early discussions of a title bid, Maresca was not. Following the 6-2 victory against Wolves, he lamented his team's absence of “control.” Following the 4-2 victory against Brighton, he struggled to comprehend how "exposed" Chelsea appeared.
Maresca wasn’t merely managing expectations while Chelsea unexpectedly climbed to second in the Premier League, ridiculing claims that his team was part of a title race; he was also cautioning fans that his vision of Chelsea would appear significantly different.
Viewers of Leicester last season provided a clear warning. The lack of frustration over Chelsea appointing the manager who had recently guided them to the Championship title was noticeable. The poaching of Kieran McKenna from fellow Premier League newcomers Ipswich would have sparked anger from the Tractor Boys, but after just one season with Maresca, Leicester supporters had grown tired, as wins and achievements were no replacement for enjoyment.
The situation at Stamford Bridge is especially frustrating since it’s not only Chelsea’s performances that have declined, but also the outcomes. After securing 33 points from their first 16 matches of the season, they have only gained 15 from the last 12. The style of football Maresca desires for Chelsea has made them poorer.
He will contend – in a milder variant of the ‘short-term pain, long-term gain’ message Ruben Amorim has been promoting at Manchester United – that he’s preparing Chelsea to “dominate English football” by adhering to his strategies.
However, the philosophy becomes much harder to accept when, in fact, Chelsea supporters experienced immediate rewards during the first half of the season when they weren’t following Maresca’s style, and are now suffering as his gradual and predictable approach has taken root.
Chelsea recorded an average xG of 2.13 over their initial 16 matches, exceeding the 1.96 under Mauricio Pochettino the previous season, but this has since decreased to 1.86 in the last 12 games. Maresca would likely view that as a valuable sacrifice that has led to a decrease in xG conceded from 1.47 to 1.32, but ask any football supporter anywhere if they would prefer their team to win 2.13-1.47 or 1.86-1.32, and they’ll consider you insane before providing the same response. We believe Cole Palmer would as well.
After enjoying the freedom he found in those more chaotic matches, he hasn't recorded a goal or an assist in his last nine outings. He has undoubtedly squandered several opportunities he would have converted in the season's initial half, but Palmer has also been stifled by the enhanced control in Chelsea’s play, with rival teams given the chance to double up on him while they have time to regain their defensive setup.
We can't recall the last instance when we saw Palmer receive the ball on the half-turn in midfield and initiate a counter-attack, which characterized Chelsea before Christmas. He now consistently encounters two lines of four and teammates meandering into place to accept the latest pointless ten-yard pass. He appears just as exasperated as we are observing him.
There have been recommendations that Palmer may seek to leave if Chelsea does not secure a Champions League spot, and he definitely deserves to compete at the highest level, but the contrast of playing styles is surely something for a footballer who enjoys playing freely and joyfully when provided the opportunity.
Maresca has demonstrated tactical versatility in various aspects, often altering his midfield formation and the roles of his full-backs, with Marc Cucurella’s advanced positioning against Leicester turning out to be a successful move. However, it all operates within a strict framework where control is achieved at the expense of fluency and creativity.
The Chelsea supporters are fed up, and the feelings seem to be reciprocated, as Maresca suggested a lack of backing in an Instagram post while gesturing to enhance the energy following Cucurella’s goal against the Foxes. His worries are legitimate – Stamford Bridge often seems quite dull – yet the supporters will argue that the egg must precede the chicken.
The connection isn't at a tipping point just yet, but with Arsenal and Tottenham looming after the second leg against Copenhagen, along with tougher matches than others in the battle for Champions League football, the impulsive #MarescaOut social media messages will likely emerge in the stadium unless performances improve or satisfactory outcomes are achieved to quell those frustrations.
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