Maresca hints at wanting older heads at Chelsea following chaotic week

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca asserted that rumors about his future would not divert his team’s attention before they met Newcastle – yet that wasn’t reflected in their performance for the first 45 minutes on Saturday.

Prior to the match starting, Maresca seemed to question Chelsea’s strategy of focusing solely on youth, implying that having some seasoned players could be «indispensable».

The Blues struggled to find their rhythm at St James’ Park, a venue where they had previously lost 15 times in the Premier League, and fell 2-0 behind after two first-half strikes from forward Nick Woltemade.

The first half was so lacking that Chelsea recorded an expected goals tally of 1.97 – their poorest showing in a first period in over two years. They were prone to mistakes defensively, inefficient with the ball, outmuscled, and failed to make any shots on target.

The lack of quality was surprising considering Chelsea had put forth a solid effort in defeating Everton at home the previous weekend. That form returned in the second half as they responded with an exceptional 25-yard free-kick from Reece James and a stunning solo goal from Joao Pedro.

Despite Chelsea’s improvement, they still needed a crucial decision to favor them as Newcastle controversially had penalty appeals denied moments before Pedro equalised when Trevoh Chalobah collided with Anthony Gordon in the penalty area.

At times, it seemed that Maresca’s post-game remarks from the previous week – where he commented that «many individuals» had contributed to his «worst 48 hours» since joining the club – were still affecting the players.

Following those remarks, the Italian had been associated with a move to Manchester City – speculation he dismissed as «100 percent» baseless – and faced ongoing scrutiny regarding his relationship with the club’s leadership.

He also shared insights on the composition of his squad before the match, indicating that he would appreciate more experience.

Earlier this week, he stated: «I love the squad, I love young players,» and prior to kickoff, he mentioned to TNT: «I’m quite content. I just concentrate on what is within my control – on the pitch – acknowledging that there’s always external noise to manage.»

However, he continued: «When you have players aged 20 and 21, and someone who is 30 or 31, and he begins to provide guidance, it’s invaluable. But it’s the strategy of the club.»

Did this represent yet another instance of Maresca setting lower expectations and emphasizing what aspects of the project he could control?

He was also advocating for the players, even receiving a yellow card for dissent in the second half as they mounted a commendable comeback.

This marked only the fourth occasion in Premier League history that Chelsea avoided defeat after being two or more goals behind at halftime. In the end, both sides had opportunities to claim victory in an exciting finish to the game.

Nevertheless, despite Maresca displaying his dedication, it remains uncertain whether this ongoing power struggle could impact Chelsea’s players in the future.

It appears Maresca has made an already challenging position even tougher by voicing his grievances — albeit in a vague manner — publicly.

His statements reveal that Maresca, who only a few weeks prior saw his side regarded as potential title challengers, believes that inconsistency should be anticipated given the youthfulness of his squad.

Chelsea’s squad is indeed notably youthful, holding both the youngest average squad age and the average age of the starting eleven in the league.

Maresca asserts that the objective for the season is simply to surpass last year’s performance, during which they secured fourth place, qualified for the Champions League, and triumphed in both the Club World Cup and Conference League.

This is echoed behind the scenes among the leadership, with Champions League qualification being a key priority again. A title challenge is not anticipated, though it hasn’t been fully dismissed.

Chelsea remains in fourth place following the draw, but inconsistency is drawing them into contention for European spots with half of the Premier League, and they would find themselves 10 points adrift of the leaders if Arsenal wins later that day.

The Blues also triumphed over Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, but they will likely need victories against both Pafos and Napoli in their final two Champions League fixtures, alongside favorable results elsewhere, to avoid a playoff round tie in February.

After the game, Maresca responded «yes, definitely,» when queried about the significance of older players in managing loud environments like that of St James’ Park, but added: «I think our younger players are also performing admirably in this aspect.»

He elaborated: «My message at the conclusion of the match is, certainly in the first half we could have performed better, but the character they displayed in the second half should instill pride in them. My past week has not been complicated. It has been positive.

«We defeated Everton, we won against Cardiff, and we drew with Newcastle away. So in terms of results, I am satisfied. Again, there are aspects we can definitely improve upon. But I believe we are progressing in the right direction.»