LOCRO, Poland – May 28: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca celebrates with the UEFA Conference League trophy after the team’s victory in the final final of the UEFA Conference League between Real Betis Baropy and Chelsea FC at Stadion Loclaw on May 28, 2025 at Loclaw, Poland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Enzo Maresca explains the approach he is trying to use at Chelsea, learned from Marcello Lippi, Pep Guardiola and Johann Cruyff. “I try to follow his example. I’ll give it a try.”
He is the latest Italian tactician to succeed overseas, not only securing silverware in the Europa Conference League trophy, but also being a Champions League qualifier thanks to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
“We were in the Champions League qualifiers a year ago because the club asked us to achieve that in two seasons,” Maresca told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.
“When it comes to conference leagues, it’s only natural that the appeal of this tournament is different from other cup competitions, but as I said at the first meeting, if Chelsea qualifies, that means we deserve to play for it and try to win.”
Lessons learned by Maresca
Maresca learned trade, working as an assistant to Vincenzo Montera, Manuel Pellegrini and Guardiola, before diverging to earn a promotion with Leicester City, and rose to Chelsea.
This is a quote from Cruyff, another great coach of the past that Maresca uses as a mantra. “It’s statistically proven that players actually have three minutes of balls when they play games.
This is a phrase Maresca wrote down in his WhatsApp profile, written on the walls of both Leicester City and Chelsea locker rooms.
“Players need to understand the phrase. While it cannot minimize the importance of talent, it emphasizes how to make themselves useful even when the ball is not visible frequently,” he explains.
“Marcello Lippi was the greatest teacher in terms of individual motivation. His ability to talk to each player, get into his mind and motivate him in the right way for that particular individual was exceptional. Follow his example.
“Chelsea chose me because they had the idea that I could grow with the team.
Maresca is in a position to know the importance of young people and is coaching Manchester City under the age of 23.
“Look at Cole Palmer. We had to develop great talent on the city’s elite youth team, but today we can enjoy the best talents at Chelsea.
Can he get up as Maresca’s old boss Guardiola has had some difficulties at Manchester City this season?
“After eight extraordinary seasons, he can be forgiven for making half of his campaign wrong. Would he doubt he is competitive again?
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