Maresca risks frustrating players and his bossespublished at 11:28 British Summer Time
11:28 BST
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Enzo Maresca rarely says anything that could frustrate his bosses at Chelsea but pulled no punches this morning in his first media conference to preview the Premier League season.
He went public with his stance that he wants a new signing to replace defender Levi Colwill, who is expected to be out for the majority of the season after surgery on his knee.
The Italian says Colwill’s influence at Stamford Bridge is underrated, going into forensic detail about how his unique ability to build up from the back is not matched by alternatives currently on the club’s books.
That stance not only risks upsetting his bosses, who want him to work with what he has got, but also those very alternative options wanting the chance to step up, which include all of Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong.
It also would rip up the club’s transfer plans to strengthen in attack, with Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho the primary target, and midfielder Xavi Simons also under consideration.