Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has admitted he got it wrong about Enzo Maresca and revealed he’s been completely surprised by Chelsea’s start to the season.
Chelsea certainly raised a few eyebrows when they appointed Maresca as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor in the summer, with the Italian guiding Leicester City to the Championship title last season.
The Blues have certainly taken a gamble, although Maresca revealed he had no doubts about taking the job despite his lack of top level management experience.
Scholes admits he was wrong about Maresca
It appeared from Chelsea’s pre-season results and performances that they could have a difficult start to the season, but that’s not proven to be the case.
Maresca has certainly surprised many with how quickly he’s adapted to life at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues currently sit fifth in the league, just a point behind Arsenal in third.
The 44-year-old at this early stage has already established an identity and a style of play, which were both lacking last season and the Blues look like they are on track to qualify for the Champions although there’s a long way to go.
Maresca has been proving people wrong who doubted him in the summer, with Scholes being one of those, but the United legend has now held his hands up.
“I think we’ve got to give Maresca credit because I remember on the show at the start of the year I felt he could’ve been one of the first ones gone. I think he’s been quite ruthless in what he’s done,” he told The Overlap Fan Debate.
“I just felt he was a coach, but he’s come in, and it looks like he’s done everything. He’s got control, he’s bombed people out of the squad and put them to one part of the training pitch. He’s built a squad of players now that seem really good. They seem to have found something. They look like a brilliantly coached team.”
Things certainly appear calmer at Chelsea than they have done recently, but having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle the Blues need to return to winning ways against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
