tl.Four Chelsea players who will benefit the most from Enzo Maresca’s football style.

Fabrizio Romano had confirmed on Tuesday that Enzo Maresca would be the Blues’ new Manager ahead of the season, although,  an official announcement has not been made.

• Enzo Maresca’s style of football will be of immense benefit to four key Chelsea players.

It is believed that the Chelsea hierarchy wanted someone who played an attractive style of Football, especially possessive Football. Maresca is seen as the perfect fit for that requirement and after initial conversations with the Italian, the Blues’ board were said to be eager to get the deal done as quickly as possible.

However, it was not just as simple as keeping the ball for the sake of it for Maresca at Leicester. Over other areas of the pitch, some of the Foxes’ players really shone last season for Maresca.

Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu had the most one-on-one duels in the entirety of the Championship throughout the 2023/24 season. Mavididi topped the list with 447 duels, with Fatawu not too far behind on 399.

Playing calm and controlled Football, building out from the back – it allowed Leicester a sense of unpredictability and chaos when advancing forward with the ball. Giving possession to either of their wingers and allowing them to express themselves caused Championship defenders problems all season-long.

Maresca is very much a man of principles so the Italian will undoubtedly try and play in a similar style at Stamford Bridge. And he may well have the players to do just that.

Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer are Chelsea’s senior winger options at this present moment. The latter of the four, Palmer, is somewhat of a maverick and was allowed to play virtually in a free role under Pochettino; something that seemed to suit the Chelsea Player of the Season down to the ground.

Madueke, Mudryk and Sterling all have a point to prove at Stamford Bridge next season. Madueke dramatically improved towards the end of the recently-concluded campaign but there feels like there is so much more to come from the 22-year-old as he enters his third season with the club.

Mudryk, meanwhile, once again showed flashes of his talent but was unable to do that on a regular basis. With Maresca’s style of play, though, that allows wingers to express themselves in attacking situations, it could really benefit the Ukraine international.

And it is a similar case with Sterling. The 29-year-old fell out of favour towards the end with Pochettino, albeit he featured plenty more in the final few matches of the season.

There is plenty to be excited about when it comes to Maresca taking over at Chelsea. Perhaps nothing more so than the impact he could have on Chelsea’s wide attacking players.