What makes Maresca different “to all the other managers” according to midfielder

Cesare Casadei has done an interview with the official Chelsea website ahead of our game tonight in the Conference League against Noah.

This week has really been “praise the gaffer week,” perhaps because all these players are competing to push up from the B team to the A team. We already heard from Levi Colwill earlier today talking all about why he thinks Enzo Maresca is a “top, top coach.” Now Casadei has added his voice in pointing out what the former Leicester boss does uniquely well:

“I really like him,” said Casadei in quotes picked up by the official Chelsea website.

“He likes to play with the ball, and he has different ideas from all the rest of the managers. He has his own ideas, and I think this is very important for us because he can drive us in the right direction. He is very clear, he has been clear from the moment he came here, and everyone understood him from the first day.”

Casadei’s struggle for minutes set to continue long term

Casadei will need more than flattery to get into the team. After a brief couple of starts, Maresca’s love of flipping his full backs around has sent Renato Veiga into midfield in the B team, costing Casadei his spot.

“[The Conference League] is a big opportunity,” Casadei admitted.

“This year, we have so many games and I think everyone has been involved so far, and everyone will be involved. So everyone has to be ready for the opportunity and the Conference League is a very good competition, so I’m sure we can do very well.”

He may well get a chance tonight of course – there’s talk of a few more of the really fringe players getting in – but long term the Italy youth international will surely be looking at a future away from Chelsea, especially with players like Andrey Santos set to join the mix this summer.