Enzo Maresca has described Chelsea's recent Club World Cup quarter-final victory over Palmeiras as the "perfect night". The match, held in Philadelphia, saw Chelsea secure a 2-1 win, advancing them to the semi-finals of the competition.
Chelsea's victory wasn't without its challenges. Cole Palmer, who has been praised by Maresca for his initiative and responsibility on the ball, opened the scoring early in the game. However, Estevao Willian, the 18-year-old winger who is set to join Chelsea after the tournament, equalized for Palmeiras with a stunning strike. Estevao's goal showcased his "huge talent" and "fantastic" potential, according to Maresca. Despite Cucurella giving Estevao a tough time in the first half, Estevao shone in the second half. A late deflected cross, resulting in an own goal by Palmeiras' goalkeeper Weverton, ultimately secured the win for Chelsea.
Maresca acknowledged the difficulties that young players often face when transitioning from South American to European football, emphasizing the need for adaptation. Despite the upcoming match against Estevao's team, Maresca insisted his team's focus was on Palmeiras as a whole, not singling out Estevao.
This victory marks another milestone for Chelsea under Maresca's leadership. After securing Champions League qualification and winning the Conference League in the prior season, Maresca is proving his ability to guide the team to success. He has emphasized the importance of improving individual players to elevate the team's overall performance. His tactical approach, influenced by Pep Guardiola, focuses on positional play, maintaining possession, and creating attacking opportunities while remaining defensively solid. Maresca's teams typically employ a 4-3-3 formation, which transitions into a 3-5-2 during possession, and utilize heavy counter-pressing to win the ball back.
Maresca's journey to Chelsea has been marked by diverse experiences. He served as an assistant manager under Guardiola at Manchester City and has also drawn from his experiences playing under managers like Marcello Lippi and Carlo Ancelotti. He led Leicester City to the EFL Championship title, earning promotion to the Premier League. His early managerial career included a stint with Parma in Serie B and leading Manchester City's U23 side to a Premier League 2 title.
Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign continues, with a semi-final match against Fluminense FC scheduled in New York. Maresca may give new signing Joao Pedro some playing time. As Chelsea progresses in the tournament, Maresca's focus remains on preparing the team for each game, emphasizing the collective effort required to achieve their goals.
