How Chelsea might line up towards Wrexham beneath Enzo Maresca: Inverted full-backs and Nkunku’s new function

The most recent within the ever-growing litany of Chelsea managers will make his debut this week as Enzo Maresca’s Blues aspect will embark on their first preseason match, going through Wrexham in Santa Clara, California within the wee hours of Thursday morning (BST).

Chelsea supporters had combined reactions to Maresca’s appointment. The truth that he realized the managerial commerce from the revolutionary mind of Pep Guardiola is a particular optimistic, although the Italian is basically unproven, solely finishing his first full season as a head coach final yr, steering Leicester to top spot within the championship.

Being a Guardiola disciple, Maresca depends on a contemporary system, using a variant of the 4-3-3 with inverted full backs and a high-pressing midfield. The formation tends to shift to a 3-2-4-1 in possession, as one full again strikes greater up the pitch to assist create a person benefit within the centre of the park.

Fortunate for Maresca, Chelsea are flush with full backs with the required technical acumen to successfully invert. Assuming he stays match, Reece James has the requisite consolation in possession and physicality to work a defensive midfield place, and Mauricio Pochettino’s resolution to invert Marc Cucurella within the late levels of final season was key to rescuing Chelsea’s push for European qualification.

When in a again three, the central defender of the trio turns into an important participant, key to distributing the ball and beginning the assault by line-breaking passes. Famend for his long-range passing, Levi Colwill will probably be a severe contender for the job, as will Tosin Adarabioyo, who was signed from Fulham partly for his distribution and dribbling.

In midfield, Maresca leaves one midfielder sitting deep, imposing defensively and serving to to distribute, a job that may seemingly be afforded to Enzo Fernandez upon his return from vacation and clearance of his disciplinary document. Romeo Lavia may even be a contender for the function.

Greater up the pitch, Maresca employs a pair of attacking midfielders. Keirnan Dewsbury-Corridor, who followed his head coach to Stamford Bridge earlier this summer season, introduced a component of verticality to Maresca’s Leicester aspect, making late runs into the field and enjoying slicing by balls to create possibilities from the half-space. Given his familiarity with Maresca’s system, Dewsbury-Corridor will seemingly be in line for a run of begins as his new teammates familiarize yourself with their new roles, although Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer will each be in line for minutes within the center.

Maresca performs a lone No 9, prone to be Nicolas Jackson, who’s but to affix the squad. The 9 drops deep to obtain from the defence earlier than linking up with the attacking midfielders to create possibilities. Jamie Vardy thrived within the function final season, scoring 18 league objectives in 35 appearances. One among Chelsea’s newest wonderkid signings, Marc Guiu, additionally has the attributes to benefit from the function, with the physicality for the false-nine-esque tasks and the tempo to behave as a goal man.

The ultimate aspect of the equation is a standard winger with a bent to chop again and join with the midfield, making a dynamic assault. Supporters have theorised that Raheem Sterling’s expertise and soccer IQ will set up him as the primary selection on the left flank, although Mykhailo Mudryk will lay reliable declare to a beginning spot.

Who begins on the correct flank will depend upon what Maresca decides to do with Cole Palmer, who needs to be the primary title on the workforce sheet, no matter place. Ought to Palmer be deployed centrally, the duty will fall to Noni Madueke, who confirmed flashes of his immense expertise in his restricted minutes beneath Pochettino.

What lineup, then, can the Blues followers anticipate for Wrexham? No matter squad we see is not going to be totally consultant of Maresca’s plans given the quantity of internationals but to affix up with the squad, together with Palmer, Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo, amongst others.

Robert Sanchez is reported to be Maresca’s first-choice keeper, and will begin between the sticks earlier than making method for Djordje Petrovic at halftime.

Throughout the again 4, anticipate James and Ben Chillwell at proper and left again, respectively, with a centre-back pairing of Colwill and Adarabioyo.

Romeo Lavia might make an look in midfield, although his match health remains to be a query mark after lacking the 2023/24 season in its entirety by harm. Forward of him, Dewsbury-Corridor will occupy one attacking midfield place, with Nkunku reverse in a free-roaming artistic function.

Finishing the squad, anticipate Madueke and Sterling on the wings. Centre ahead choices will probably be restricted, so a Guiu debut could also be on the playing cards.

As ever in preseason, anticipate heavy rotation as Maresca appears to be like to check his squad and experiment with completely different participant mixtures. Dealing with six preseason fixtures, he may have ample time to check his gamers.