How Enzo Maresca has changed the fortunes of an inconsistent Chelsea FC

Chelsea is playing like a team, not just a collection of stars

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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 18, 2024

One of the most significant changes under Maresca has been the team’s collective play. Last season, Chelsea often relied on individual brilliance without a clear tactical identity, leading to disjointed performances. In contrast, Maresca’s side operates with cohesion, with each player understanding their role within a fluid system.

The Italian has fostered a team-first mentality, ensuring that no single player is shouldering the burden. Although Cole Palmer has been a standout, the system doesn’t revolve around him alone. The wide forwards, midfielders, and even full-backs contribute to attacking moves.

Chelsea’s ability to create 27 big chances reflects their more varied attacking options, and 41 shots on target indicate a willingness to involve multiple players in front of goal. This multi-pronged approach has helped them become a formidable unit, with an emphasis on teamwork rather than individual reliance.

Cole Palmer’s creative role adds a new dimension

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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 18, 2024

While Chelsea’s overall play has improved, Cole Palmer’s new role as a central playmaker has undoubtedly given the team an edge. Transitioning from a winger to the number 10 role, Palmer has seamlessly adapted to orchestrating attacks. His vision, combined with his technical ability, has allowed Chelsea to play more through the middle, breaking defensive lines more frequently.

Palmer’s eight key passes place him among the most creative players in the league, and his movement between the lines offers Chelsea the flexibility to switch between wide and central attacking strategies. However, what makes Palmer’s contribution stand out is not just his creativity but his ability to connect play.

He links the midfield to the forwards effortlessly, and his knack for positioning himself in dangerous areas has made Chelsea’s attack far less predictable. While he has emerged as a key figure, the system around him allows others to thrive as well, demonstrating the collective progress Chelsea have made.

Wide players and full-backs creating threats from multiple angles

Maresca’s tactics have unlocked the potential of Chelsea’s wide players, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the league when it comes to stretching defences. By utilising a front three, with players like Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho on the flanks, Chelsea have added pace and width to their game.

This has allowed them to create overloads in wide areas, giving them more options to break down compact defences. Moreover, Maresca’s use of full-backs pushing high up the pitch has been crucial in maintaining the team’s attacking momentum. This approach ensures that Chelsea can create multiple points of attack, making it harder for opponents to shut them down.

Their ability to produce the sixth-highest number of through balls highlights how effective they are at threading passes behind the opposition’s defence, making them a constant threat in wide positions and on the counter.

A balanced midfield with high-pressing energy

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— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 18, 2024

Another vital aspect of Chelsea’s success under Maresca has been the balance in midfield, particularly with Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández. The duo has provided a blend of defensive cover and creative support, allowing Chelsea to control the tempo of games. While Caicedo’s defensive work has been crucial. He ranks third in the league for duels won, and Fernández has been the link between defence and attack.

Maresca has crafted a system where Chelsea press aggressively when out of possession, with the midfield playing a key role in regaining control quickly. Their energetic pressing and counter-pressing tactics have suffocated opponents, forcing errors and enabling Chelsea to win the ball high up the pitch. This high-pressing intensity also protects the defence, reducing the number of clear-cut chances opponents get, and has been key in making Chelsea harder to break down.

Maresca’s tactical flexibility offers different solutions

Enzo Maresca’s tactical flexibility has been one of the cornerstones of Chelsea’s strong start. Unlike previous seasons where the team often struggled to adapt to different situations, Maresca has shown the ability to tweak his tactics depending on the opposition.

Whether it’s shifting the formation to a more defensive setup or encouraging his players to press higher, Chelsea have become a more adaptable side. The Italian manager’s willingness to rotate between a three-man midfield and a more attacking 4-3-3 formation has given Chelsea the ability to dominate possession when needed or strike on the counter.

His use of fluid formations and rotations between positions keeps the opposition guessing, and this tactical variability has allowed Chelsea to not only respond effectively to different challenges but also impose their style on most games.