New coach Enzo Maresca is considering implementing restrictions on the types of food Chelsea players can consume.

Under the guidance of new head coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea FC players are expected to follow a strictly controlled diet at the training ground, potentially involving the removal of certain food items from their meals.

Enzo Maresca, fresh from guiding Leicester City to promotion to the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, steps in to fill the role left vacant by Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea. The 44-year-old Italian is set to officially begin his tenure on July 1, and he will be bringing along six members from his support team. This team includes Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Javi Molina, Roberto Vitiello, and Marcos Alvarez. Alvarez, in particular, is noted for his extensive experience as a fitness coach and is expected to implement a stringent nutritional plan at Chelsea’s Cobham training center, utilizing his experience from former clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Sevilla, Parma, and Leicester City.

During his previous stint at Tottenham under coach Juande Ramos, Alvarez was known for enforcing a strict diet that banned items such as salt, pepper, fruit juice, sauces, and cakes. This dietary rigor reportedly resulted in the Tottenham team collectively shedding 100 kilograms.

Former Tottenham players Jamie O’Hara and Darren Bent recounted their experiences under such dietary restrictions. Speaking on talkSPORT, O’Hara described how the introduction of the new diet, which included unseasoned pasta and chicken, led players to sneak out for fast food, facilitated by security personnel like Alan Dixon. The meals during preseason were particularly Spartan, consisting only of dry chicken and pasta without any sauces.

Darren Bent detailed the stark limitations in their meal options, with just one type of meat, one type of fish, plain rice, and vegetables making up the daily menu. He recalled the absence of even basic condiments like salt and pepper, and noted the lack of any desserts, such as crumble. The former England striker described the diet as flavorless and challenging, indicating that even team captain Ledley King had raised concerns about the restrictive eating regime with the management.

Further reports suggest that during Alvarez’s time at Leicester, he even eliminated fried eggs from the players’ breakfast options. This pattern of strict dietary control under Alvarez’s supervision seems likely to continue at Chelsea, as Maresca’s team aims to optimize player fitness and performance through nutrition.