12th in the Premier League during the 2022-2023 season, 6th during the last financial year… Chelsea have disappointed in recent months, despite the colossal investments made (around 1.5 billion euros) since the departure of Roman Abramovich in May 2022. In addition to a poor record on a sporting level, the London team has long been distinguished by chronic instability on an institutional level. With this in mind, Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino have succeeded one another on the Blues bench while Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali – the two new main majority owners of Chelsea – have not always been on the bench. same wavelength when it comes to management. However, since the induction of Enzo Maresca last July, the residents of Stamford Bridge have found some color. Fifth in the standings after nine days before challenging Manchester United, Chelsea are holding their own against the biggest names in the English championship.
Maresca imposes her paw!
Second best attack in the Premier League behind Manchester City (20 goals) with 19 goals on the clock, the club from the southwest of the British capital can also boast of a hitherto attractive European career. Leading the Europa Conference League after two days, Chelsea have a total of 9 wins, 4 defeats and 2 draws in all competitions. A certain renewal that the London team owes in particular to Enzo Maresca, 44-year-old coach from Leicester. After difficult seasons marked by disappointing results and a team decimated by injuries, the new architect of the Blues wasted no time in imposing his style. According to our latest information, the native of Pontecagnano Faiano quickly put in place a system that was unique to say the least. Aware of the wealth of his squad, the former Juventus and Sevilla FC player then decided to operate with two separate teams. A carefully considered choice.
Having a multitude of profiles (30 players in the first team, 20 players currently on loan) and determined to limit physical problems – which caused harm to Chelsea last season – the Transalpine has, in effect, cut to the chase: one group intended to play in the championship matches, another to play in the national cups and Europe. An unusual directive but which is bearing fruit today since the Blues have far fewer injured players and have a string of positive results. A method logically impacting the trajectory of the different talents making up the London squad, starting with the Chelsea Frenchies, namely Christopher Nkunku (26 years old), Malo Gusto (21 years old), Axel Disasi (26 years old), Benoît Badiashile (23 years old). years) and Wesley Fofana (23 years). Resettled within the Blues defense after his major knee injury, the latter city has, in this respect, been unanimous since his return to competition. Great satisfaction at the start of the season, the native of Marseille has today established himself as the best defender of the Blues.
Fofana, Nkunku and Gusto shine
“In one of my last press conferences, I said that I really liked Wesley because it’s not easy to play after a year of absence, to come back, and to be a warrior like him ballast. When you have this kind of injury, you’re probably going to feel pain for the rest of your career, unfortunately that’s how it is. But he finished well and he looks good and that’s the most important thing.”assured Enzo Maresca with this in mind about the one who participated in 8 Premier League matches (all as an indisputable starter). Pillar of the Chelsea rearguard and given confidence by his coach – who had asked his management not to loan him out last summer – Fofana has since gone on to produce very high-level performances. What also opens the doors to the French team since he had been summoned for the last gathering of the Blues and presents himself as a more than serious candidate for Didier Deschamps’ next list.
Back at the forefront, the former Leicester and Saint-Étienne player, however, has not played any minutes on the European scene. A choice responding to the logic previously explained and aiming above all to preserve the physical condition of the 1m86 defender. A management approach that is also similar to that operated with a certain Christopher Nkunku. Slowed down by injuries during the last exercise, the French international (10 caps), recently author of his first goal for the selection, is also regaining his full potential. European player with the best goal/playing time ratio (8 goals in 607 minutes of play), the ex-Parisian Titi demonstrates disconcerting efficiency. More used for European matches and national cups, Chelsea number 18 also benefits from a few minutes in the Premier League (152 after 9 days). The objective being, here too, not to take any risks with a player determined to consolidate his physique. Meticulous and calculated, this use has proven, in any case, to date to be more than judicious.
Disasi on the return, Badiashile on the departure?
Attractive for his first season in the Chelsea jersey (9 assists in 37 matches), Malo Gusto, for his part, continues his momentum. If the player trained by Olympique Lyonnais has experienced some physical problems in recent weeks with a muscle injury depriving him of two matches (Bournemouth, West Ham), the French international remains, despite everything, an essential element of the team’s team. ‘Enzo Maresca. Versatile, the 1m78 right-back – capable of helping out on the left side of the defense – has nevertheless shown himself to be less decisive since the restart (only one small decisive pass against Barrow). However, nothing to scare the current coach of the Blues, more than ever won over by the performance of his number 27. “He’s a fantastic player. I am very happy with Malo. He brings us a lot of things. He helps us a lot in the way we want to play. He’s doing very, very well. For the age he is, he is at the top”conceded, in this regard, Maresca.
In the wake of the three Tricolores, Axel Disasi is also gradually returning. Victim of physical problems during the summer and groin surgery, the defender who played for Paris FC, Stade de Reims and AS Monaco saw his summer preparation somewhat truncated. But here again, Chelsea intends to pamper her protégé. If the initial idea was to install him in central defense alongside Wesley Fofana, the prolonged convalescence of the person concerned has slightly modified London’s plans. Appearing twice as a right-back in the Premier League, Chelsea’s number 2 benefits from more playing time in Europe and during Cup matches. Appointed captain against Barrow and La Gantoise, Disasi can, whatever happens, count on the confidence of his management. A healthy environment which should allow the child of Gonesse to gain strength in the weeks to come.
If the signals are therefore green for the majority of the Chelsea Tricolores, the horizon is, on the other hand, much foggier for Benoît Badiashile. Considered by the London board as the last defender in the hierarchy, the former Monegasque has never really been able to establish himself in the colors of Chelsea since his arrival in January 2023. Appearing 22 times in all competitions last season, the 1m94 left-hander has only played 37 minutes in the Premier League this season and must currently make do with the Europa Conference League and the EFL Cup (Chelsea have just been eliminated by Newcastle) to gain playing time Under contract until June 2030, the latter could quickly move towards new horizons since, according to our latest information, the London management would not be against the idea of leaving in the coming months. Suffering last season, the Chelsea Frenchies are finding, in any case, generally good sensations. It will now be necessary to confirm.
