Enzo Maresca has told his Chelsea superiors to sign him a replacement for Levi Colwill at centre back at a time when the Blues are being constantly linked with attackers.
Maresca staged a bullish press conference before their season opener versus Crystal Palace this weekend, explaining exactly why Colwill’s ACL injury was a blow to his tactical system.
Maresca hinted he had been informed that he must find an internal solution to Colwill’s absence but with Chelsea still involved in chases for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, he suggested signing a central defender should be the priority.
‘He has to be out for a long time,’ Maresca said. ‘It is a big loss for us. You know how important Levi has been for us last season, for the way we want to play.
‘We said many times that we are able to create chances and to attack in the right way if we are able to build in the right way. Levi was a huge part of our build-up and now he is out.
‘We are trying to find a solution internally but the club know exactly what I think.’
Asked to expand on what he had told the Chelsea hierarchy, he answered: ‘I think we need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but as I said, the club know exactly what I think.’
Maresca’s system involves sending a full back into midfield and when that happens, it leaves Chelsea with a back three.
Continuing on Colwill’s absence, he said: ‘When we build, we build with Levi in the middle. Last year we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin (Adarabioyo). Now Levi is out. The only one that he can do that job well is Tosin.’
Chelsea signed Jorrel Hato from Ajax this summer and he can play at left back or centre back, but added: ‘Hato is a new one, he never played as the guy in the middle last season, so it's not about being a central defender. Yes, he is a central defender. Can he do that? It's different.
‘Also we have players that, unfortunately, like Wes (Fofana) or Benoit (Badiashile), they have in this moment some problems. This is the reason why I said that the club knows exactly what I think about central defenders.’
rakbcdeiks
0
He should use Acheampong and Anselmino so that they can develop and become stronger not buying buying buying
Knight339
0
Chelsea board can sign player with or without Coach consent, at Chelsea everybody is a Boss
akpchoichinho001
0
forget about garnacho and get us a good ccb and also a good goalie .. Sanchez will make us cry again this season
Tescdimnu
1
He should stay with the CB he has at club for now.
kabiru92
2
what would you do with Aselmino and Acheampong
Austineluv8
0
So the board sign without the approval of the coach, that is bad
nucbeoptuz
1
Guehi should not think twice about coming back to Chelsea,what his doing is to disrespect his home let Chelsea put 60 millions for him quickly oooh let’s not Guehi,if get Guehi we are champions,could someone give me the number of Guehi we need him😭😭👊🏻👊🏻💙💙🙅♂️🙅♂️
Noble1
3
CFC should just use this as an opportunity to sign an experienced world class center back. If they don't, this might come back to haunt them down the line as Fofana is injury prone. Badashiele is inconsistent. Tosin is great, but lacks real pace to cope with fast attackers. That leaves us with just one defender with decent pace, that is Chaloba. Unless they are planning to introduce Acheampong and Anslimino into the fold. But both lack top flight experience. Another option is to experiment with Reece as Center back. But that is only possible if Gusto performs well at right back and stays injury free. Considering we are competing for a lot of trophies this new season, our best bet is to bring in a world class center back now before it is too late.
katbcinrsz
2
Heoabcdrty
2
Call Renato veiga back to the team.
Pombdeiosy
0
So the board doesn't ask for the manager's opinion before they sign players. Na wa o
Coyblopt
3
Chelsea should get Guehi
Akogun77
0
No
Biodilmnyz
1
I dey with the idea
Vambeiknou
1
so ganacho and xavi no sure yet
hubabdlt
0
i back this ideas