“If you repeat the same mistake I will bench you” – Enzo Maresca threatens Chelsea star despite Southampton win
Since taking charge at Chelsea, Maresca has encountered significant challenges with his goalkeepers. At the beginning of his tenure, he publicly expressed confidence in Robert Sanchez, even though the goalkeeper had made multiple costly mistakes. However, a particularly poor showing against Manchester City in January forced Maresca to make a change, replacing Sanchez with 22-year-old Danish goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. Unfortunately, Jorgensen has also struggled, with one of his most notable errors occurring in Chelsea’s recent 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, where he conceded a late goal that ultimately cost his team valuable points.
During Chelsea’s match against Southampton, Jorgensen’s attempts to play out from the back created unease among the Stamford Bridge supporters. His distribution was inconsistent, leading to moments of uncertainty. However, Maresca stood by his goalkeeper, explaining his strict tactical instructions: “My message to Filip was, ‘If you play long ball, I will change you.’ So he was just doing what I told him.” Despite this clear directive, Jorgensen attempted eight long passes of over 30 yards, but only managed to complete half of them. In contrast, he demonstrated far greater accuracy with shorter passes, successfully completing all 28 he attempted.
Southampton’s manager, Ivan Juric, had devised a strategy aimed at exploiting any instability in Chelsea’s buildup play. His team applied intense pressure high up the pitch, hoping to force errors and capitalize on them. However, despite their aggressive pressing approach, Southampton failed to break down Chelsea’s defensive structure and ultimately could not turn their efforts into meaningful attacking opportunities.
Maresca acknowledged the difficulties goalkeepers face when adapting to his tactical system, recognizing that both Jorgensen and Sanchez have struggled under his approach. Nonetheless, he remained firm in his belief that the team must fully commit to the strategy he has implemented. He stated, “It’s difficult for Filip, it’s difficult for Robert when he was playing, I think it’s difficult for all the keepers. But they should just follow the plan.”
This situation highlights Maresca’s unwavering commitment to a possession-based style of football, even when it presents risks in Chelsea’s defensive third. His willingness to make difficult decisions demonstrates his determination to enforce tactical discipline within the squad.
Looking at the broader picture of Chelsea’s season, Maresca’s approach underscores his primary objective: to build a well-organized, cohesive team capable of executing his strategic vision effectively. As Chelsea continues to compete in both domestic and European competitions, his insistence on playing a structured, methodical style of football will remain a defining characteristic of his leadership.
