Chelsea star was nearly sold under Poch, now he’s become undroppable

Chelsea managed a 1-1 attract a tightly contested match towards Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, taking them third within the Premier League on 19 factors, profitable 5 video games, drawing 4, and shedding two of their opening 11 video games.

Regardless of having barely much less of the ball (49% possession), they managed to take 17 photographs, creating one large probability and producing 1.28 xG.

Enzo Maresca’s facet at the moment are averaging 54.7% possession (the fifth highest within the division), 14 photographs per sport (ninth highest within the division), and 12.8 photographs towards them per 90.

However it’s among the particular person performances which have improved beneath Maresca which can be simply as spectacular, with many gamers enhancing beneath the Italian since he took over from Mauricio Pochettino.

A type of occurs to be Pedro Neto – who scored towards the Gunners – however there are another notable names alongside the Portuguese…

Gamers thriving beneath Maresca

Levi Colwill is among the fundamental examples, getting used closely as a left-back final season beneath Pochettino, and coming beneath some flack for his performances in that place.

However now beneath Maresca, again in his finest place, Colwill is orchestrating video games from the again, bringing one other stage of physicality to his sport, and forming a fantastic partnership on the again with Wesley Fofana. Between them, they boast a move success fee of 89.3% and 89.5% respectively; not dangerous in any respect.

One other title is Moises Caicedo, who had a rocky begin to life at Chelsea beneath Pochettino, following his £115m transfer to the Blues in the summertime of 2023. Caicedo did have a really stable secondnd half of the season beneath Pochettino, however he’s taken it up one other stage beneath Maresca but once more.

The 23-year-old has made the second most tackles (38) and the joint-fifth most interceptions (18) within the Premier League this season, placing out fires in the course of the park, and kick-starting assaults for the Blues, even offering two assists.

However maybe the most important enchancment is a star who was reportedly set for the axe beneath Pochettino, Marc Cucurella. The Spaniard put in yet one more large efficiency towards Arsenal.

Marc Cucurella’s efficiency in numbers vs Arsenal

Tasked with defending towards one of many league’s finest wingers in Bukayo Saka, Cucurella was completely wonderful at minimising his capability to have an effect on the sport.

Profitable 4 of his six floor duels, making three tackles, three interceptions, one block and two clearances, it was an outstanding defensive show from the Spanish defender.

The 26-year-old has rapidly turn out to be an undroppable determine in Maresca’s facet, exhibiting the tenacity and aggression the Italian supervisor likes in his defenders, giving them the flexibility to go man for man.

The Spain worldwide has made 12 appearances this season, contributing to 2 clear sheets, and totaling 920 minutes performed.

Cucurella has been utilized in quite a lot of methods already this season, turning into the left-sided centre-back in a again three, inverting into midfield, and even showing additional up the pitch within the left half areas, working as a quantity ten at instances.

This enables Maresca to platform others within the crew, to place them of their finest positions to succeed, with Cucurella being a key man to permit that.

The type of Cucurella, combined with the profile of the defender which fits Maresca so effectively, makes the 26-year-old undroppable, as Chelsea face Leicester Metropolis of their subsequent sport after the worldwide break.