Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea tactics

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In the summer of 2024, Chelsea turned to Enzo Maresca as the coach to succeed Mauricio Pochettino, with the club striving to win honours again and return to the Champions League. In previous seasons they had stockpiled plenty of talented players, while employing well-respected head coaches, but still struggled to put the pieces of a successful side together. The early signs under Maresca have shown plenty of promise, with a top-four place going into the 2024/25 October international break. 

After an opening-game defeat in a tough assignment against Manchester City, Maresca’s Chelsea subsequently hit their stride with a 6-2 win at Wolves. Indeed, they scored 16 goals in their first seven league fixtures. Only Pep Guardiola’s City outscored the Blues since Maresca took charge.

Having worked with Guardiola at City, and then won the Championship as head coach of Leicester, the Italian arrived at Stamford Bridge with a reputation as one of the most promising managers in the game. Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed his early tactical impact at Chelsea…

Short connections

After seven Premier League games under Maresca, Chelsea had the sixth-highest average possession figure (54.9%) in the Premier League. This figure was lower than any full-season average at Chelsea across the previous nine seasons, but what Maresca had immediately implemented were lots of short connections; especially when building through the middle third of the pitch.

At his previous clubs, he utilised a full-back moving inside to overload the centre and dominate possession, with his players repeatedly connecting via short passes. These quick and frequent passes help to keep the ball long enough for his desired rotations to occur off the ball. And so, after seven league games in the 2024/25 campaign, Chelsea had the fourth-highest number of passes per minute of possession.

Maresca’s Chelsea have used similar rotations and movements to those seen with his previous teams, especially a full-back moving into the central midfield spaces (Malo Gusto in the example below). Underneath this movement, the back line have adjusted to form a trio in possession. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez has added a fourth player when needed with deep build-up, but not necessarily if Chelsea have faced more aggressive, high-pressing opponents.

One of the pivots – usually Enzo Fernández – has looked to reposition, becoming a higher midfield option alongside Cole Palmer, while Moisés Caicedo readjusts slightly to allow the right-back – usually Gusto – to invert (above). There have also been occasions when left-back Marc Cucurella has moved inside, though. In that instance, Fernández has simply moved higher, with Caicedo maintaining his original role on the right side of the double pivot.

Less often, one of the pivots has dropped into the back line. Here, one full-back has moved into central midfield, and the second – usually more reserved – full-back has moved higher and contributed to the attacking phase more. This particular pattern has also been used to overload one side of the pitch, focusing on closer combinations via short passes. When performed from the left, Palmer has been free in the right inside channel. This allows Chelsea to play around the opposition and switch into their most influential player.

Palmer as the 10

Under Pochettino, England international Palmer spent a lot of the 2023/24 season as a right winger for Chelsea. From that starting position he scored an impressive 22 league goals, becoming the first player to score at least 20 in a season for the club since Diego Costa in 2016/17. Maresca, however, has opted to start him as a number 10.

In the 4-2-3-1 starting shape, Palmer as the central 10 has been Chelsea’s main asset when counter-attacking. His ability to drive forward and quickly combine, as well as create chances, has made him an ideal number 10 in this formation.

When Chelsea have built through sustained periods of possession and the full-back has inverted, Palmer has become a right-sided number 10 in a central four. Being left-footed, he has been ideally placed to cut in from the right inside channel. From there, he can shoot, combine with his attacking teammates or play delicate through balls. He is also agile and skilful enough to evade pressure in this area, dribbling expertly in tight spaces.

After seven league games under Maresca, Palmer ranked second for the most key passes played (8) in the Premier League. Not all came from the traditional number 10 spaces, high up the pitch – he also created from deep, showing the range and depth of his passing (below). With Gusto inverted, Palmer was able to demonstrate his tactical nous, timing when to drop out of the opposing block and receive more freely. Early first-time passes on his stronger left side allowed him to then connect back inside from this wider, deeper position. Against opposition committed to playing with a very high back line, Palmer could then utilise the speed and direct running of Chelsea’s front line.

Penetrative front line

Due to the number of wingers in Chelsea’s 2024/25 squad, along with the ideas Maresca has previously used as a head coach, it was perhaps inevitable he would use a wide front three. In support of central forward Nicolas Jackson, Maresca has been able to call upon the wide attacking talents of Noni Madueke, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho. All offer pace and a threat running in behind, with Palmer’s passing range able to find these movements on both sides of the pitch.

The maximum width created by this front line – in particular the wingers – has helped to pin opposing back fours. Chelsea have then had a spare player elsewhere, usually a free centre-back. As Maresca’s build-up shape has adapted, this has often resulted in a free player in central midfield. This in turn allows for improved passing through the thirds and, ultimately, better service into the wingers.

After seven games, Chelsea had recorded the joint-sixth most through balls in the 2024/25 Premier League, often as a result of searching for winger movements in behind. To further benefit this penetration, Jackson has dropped to the ball, dragging a centre-back with him – especially when they are positioned high up the pitch (below). This has created gaps for Maresca’s central players to slide passes for a winger to run on to. On occasion, one of the two 10s – usually Palmer – has made a penetrative central run instead, with the wingers staying wide.

When the opposition’s back line has narrowed to cover the gap from the centre-back being pulled out, the wingers have then been able to receive to feet. From there, they could attack with dribbles, carrying the ball at speed or combining with the 10s in the inside channels, to find a way into the final third.

Jackson has also proved useful by spinning back in, freeing the 10s or wingers between the lines. As such, Maresca’s attack registered the most key passes (46) in the Premier League in his first seven games.

Counter-pressing

When required to defend for longer periods, Chelsea have reverted into a 4-2-3-1, or a 4-4-2 block with the 10 positioned slightly higher. Before converting, though, Maresca’s side have been energetic in their counter-pressing. This has involved using any (brief) central-midfield overload from their in-possession rotations, on defensive transition.

Double pivots Caicedo and Fernández have protected and covered underneath the ball, limiting central counter-attacks. Both are combative and can cover ground in all directions, supporting a press from underneath, as well as back-pressing any balls into opposing central forwards. Caicedo recorded a significant number of duels (71) in the opening seven league games – the most for Chelsea and third highest in the division.

Fernández – often higher with Chelsea in possession – formed part of the first central-midfield line on defensive transitions, counter-pressing along with Palmer. A recovering Jackson has supported them, along with the narrowed wingers (below). This tight midfield unit of four – supported by a collapsing front line – has helped Chelsea limit opposing counter-attacks, even when not regaining possession immediately.

Energetic pressing after the ball has been lost has bought time for players to recover back. By mid-October of the 2024/25 season, Chelsea ranked second in the Premier League for overall challenge intensity per minute of opposing possession. By contrast, they were 12th highest for PPDA. This demonstrated their preference for trying to win possession back quickly, making use of numbers and connections around the ball. If no regain occurred, they would then recover back into shape, instead of maintaining high pressing.

Behind Caicedo, Chelsea’s next two most frequent duellers have been Cucurella and Gusto. With both inverting at times during build-up, they have had the opportunity to duel for possession in midfield during defensive transitions, as well as in the traditional full-back spaces. Indeed, both players ranked among the top 20 for most defensive duels in the league so far – Cucurella sixth with 67, and Gusto 15th with 56.

It is a level of intensity that will no doubt have pleased Maresca. The Italian is very clear on the methods he wants his teams to use, and has quickly put his stamp on Chelsea’s play. For those with a keen interest in tactics, his team will be a fascinating one to watch as the season unfolds. 

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Author: The Coaches' Voice