The Leicester training ground had a little but significant alteration upon Enzo Maresca’s arrival last summer in remembrance of Claudio Ranieri.
When players entered at the entrance of their Seagrave setup, they saw pictures of Leicester’s 2021 FA Cup and Community Shield victory on the walls. However, the incredible 2016 Premier League victory went unnoticed. Maresca made the decision to display Ranieri’s championship victory next to those accomplishments.
Given that Ranieri was among the first to contact Maresca after the Italian was appointed Foxes manager last year, the transfer came as less of a surprise. However, with Maresca playing Chelsea, another of Ranieri’s previous clubs, perhaps another call is necessary.
Though Maresca has only managed 53 senior matches in England and none in the Premier League, he appears certain to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge this week despite having managed less than 70 games overall. Still, he comes expecting great things.
Like when Ranieri took over in 2000, the 44-year-old will start the position with expectations to compete in the Champions League.
Pochettino’s abrupt exit from Stamford Bridge was mostly caused by the Blues failing to finish in the top four. The owners of Chelsea wondered why the team was not able to achieve such a level when they watched the Champions League semi-finals last month.
Chelsea see Maresca as a manager who can lead them into Europe’s top club tournament, albeit with his relative inexperience. Their preferred football style is one that emphasises possession and dominance.
His upbringing and education within the framework of the Pep Guardiola ideology greatly influence their way of thinking. During his year at the King Power, Maresca has given Leicester a playmaking approach that is reminiscent of Manchester City.
The same methodical play that consistently places Guardiola’s team last in the Premier League for forward-pass percentages was practically overnight ingrained; in the Championship, only Southampton’s % fell short of Leicester’s from the previous year.
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