Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shed light on the club’s ambitions and his views on the development of young talent. Speaking in a recent interview, Maresca addressed the expectations for the season and his admiration for emerging defender Josh Acheampong.
No Top-Four Pressure for Maresca
Since his appointment, Maresca revealed that there has been no directive from Chelsea’s owners or directors to finish in the top four this season. He emphasized the importance of focusing on progress rather than immediate success.
“Since I met for the first time with owners and directors, they never mentioned to me to finish top four,” Maresca stated.
Acknowledging the strength of the squad, he also pointed out that Chelsea finished 12th and sixth in the past two seasons, illustrating the need for a steady, deliberate improvement rather than expecting automatic success.
“We’ve a very good squad, but to improve, it is not something automatic. You need progress.”
Praise for Josh Acheampong
Maresca also took the opportunity to praise young defender Josh Acheampong, seeing great potential in the 17-year-old. The Chelsea boss is confident that Acheampong has the qualities to become a top player in the future.
“For me, potentially, he can be a top player and defender for the future.”
Maresca mentioned that he likes to work closely with young players, making slight adjustments to their game in order to accelerate their development. He noted how rapidly young talents can grow and change in today’s game:
“Now with the young players, I like to modify them a little. Today, for young players, they can change very quick!”
Enzo Maresca is taking a measured approach at Chelsea, focusing on long-term progress rather than immediate top-four success. His keen eye for youth development, as seen in his praise of Josh Acheampong, shows that he is laying the foundations for a strong future at Stamford Bridge. Fans can look forward to seeing how Maresca’s vision unfolds over time.
Key Points:
Maresca reveals there’s no pressure from Chelsea’s board to finish in the top four.
The focus is on improving gradually after recent finishes in 12th and 6th place.
Maresca sees great potential in young defender Josh Acheampong, highlighting his future prospects.