Enzo Maresca has revealed how a last-minute tweak was key to Chelsea’s performance against Leicester City.
Enzo Maresca has praised his Chelsea players for their adaptability after a late tactical change proved crucial in their 1-0 victory over Leicester City.
Maresca had prepared his team to face a Leicester side playing with a back four, but upon seeing the team sheets, he discovered they would be using a back five.
This required a complete overhaul of Chelsea’s game plan, which Maresca communicated to his players just before the pre-match warm-up.
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Maresca explains change in Cucurella’s role
The alternation proved successful, with Marc Cucurella scoring the winning goal in the 60th minute.
Maresca explained that the original plan involved Cucurella playing as a midfielder when the team had possession, but the change in Leicester’s formation required Chelsea to attack with six players.
Enzo Maresca changed Marc Cucurella’s role before Chelsea faced Leicester City (Credit: Imago)
This meant that the left-back moved higher up the pitch, and other players adjusted their positions accordingly.
“I’m very happy,’ the Italian said in his post-match press conference. “The main reason is when we prepare for a game, we watch as many games as possible, and we watched almost every Leicester game under Ruud. They always played in a line of four.
“But they arrive here and it is a line of five; they change completely their plan. So all the training sessions we have done to prepare for this game go in the rubbish.
“You need a new plan. So, before the warm-up, we had to give the players a new plan and this is why I was so happy because the way the players adapted – something from the outside you maybe don’t see – was top, fantastic.”
Maresca also highlighted the need to change the team’s pressing strategy in the same press conference.
He was delighted with how his players adapted to the new plan, especially given Leicester’s attempt to surprise them with a different formation.
Chelsea returned to the top four in the Premier League after the 1-0 success, leapfrogging Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City whom they lead by two points.
What next for Chelsea?
The Blues return to UEFA Conference League action against Copenhagen on Thursday, keen to avoid a shock exit, having edged the last-16 first leg 2-1.
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