Enzo Maresca slammed over ‘very worrying’ Chelsea decision
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca (Picture: Getty) Ian Wright has accused Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca of making an ‘unacceptable’ decision at Stamford Bridge. The Blues conclude the 2024-25 campaign with three crucial games as they look to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa Conference League. Chelsea, currently sitting fifth in the final Champions League spot, face Manchester United on Friday night before a Premier League finale against top-five rivals Nottingham Forest. Maresca then takes his side to Poland on May 28 for Chelsea’s Europa Conference League final against Spanish side Real Betis. Chelsea suffered a disappointing and potentially damaging defeat to Newcastle United last weekend and Wright said playing Moises Caicedo at right-back against the Magpies was ‘crazy’. Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. It was not the first time central midfielder Caicedo has slotted in at right-back, with the £100m signing asked to step into midfield when Chelsea are on the ball. Using inverted, flexible full-backs is not uncommon in the Premier League but Wright has described Chelsea’s tactic as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘very worrying’. Arsenal legend and ex-England striker Ian Wright (Picture: Getty) England right-back Reece James was only named on Chelsea’s bench at St James’ Park before being introduced at half time. ‘It is crazy when you look at who Enzo Maresca has got on the bench and he’s still doing that [playing Caicedo at right-back],’ Wright said on The Kelly & Wrighty Show. ‘Teams are going to attack him all the time. Whatever he’s saying about getting into midfield and controlling it, you’ve got to get control of the game. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘It all comes down to the manager. Unless something has happened with Reece James and Malo Gusto, I don’t know what’s happened. ‘That, for me, is unacceptable… He’s making decisions that are very worrying, especially in that particular incident.’ The finger of blame was pointed at Caicedo for Newcastle’s 2nd-minute opener against Chelsea. ‘He definitely switched off. Newcastle started so quickly, perfect start for them,’ former England striker Peter Crouch told TNT Sports. Chelsea’s £100m midfielder Moises Caicedo (Picture: Getty) ‘Initially he does really well, Caicedo stays with Anthony Gordon and then they just get themselves in a right mess here. ‘Sandro Tonali’s pressing is unbelievable, his physicality, he’s always on the front foot. And then Caicedo just switches off.’ Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Last week I was surprised that Caicedo didn’t get sent off with the challenges he was putting in. ‘So what do Newcastle do? First minute they put the ball in behind him to Anthony Gordon and that eventually led to the goal. ‘When he is back there he just seems rash and out of position. He is Chelsea’s player of the year this season but he is out of position and Anthony Gordon is already giving him a tough time.’ James struggled with injury problems earlier in the season but has featured heavily in the second-half of the campaign and was believed to be fit to start against Newcastle. Discussing James’ intriguing situation at Stamford Bridge, ex-Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said: ‘Reece James is Maresca’s club captain. Something has obviously happened. ‘I know he’s had his injury problems, but he’s ready now, he’s been training for months, he’s had opportunities to play. ‘I can’t understand some of the decisions Maresca has made regarding the Conference League. Resting players in the Premier League to play weakened opposition, with all due respect. ‘He’s been resting some players in the Premier League. If he doesn’t finish in the Champio
Ian Wright has accused Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca of making an ‘unacceptable’ decision at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues conclude the 2024-25 campaign with three crucial games as they look to qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea, currently sitting fifth in the final Champions League spot, face Manchester United on Friday night before a Premier League finale against top-five rivals Nottingham Forest.
Maresca then takes his side to Poland on May 28 for Chelsea’s Europa Conference League final against Spanish side Real Betis.
Chelsea suffered a disappointing and potentially damaging defeat to Newcastle United last weekend and Wright said playing Moises Caicedo at right-back against the Magpies was ‘crazy’.
Get personalised updates on Chelsea every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
It was not the first time central midfielder Caicedo has slotted in at right-back, with the £100m signing asked to step into midfield when Chelsea are on the ball.
Using inverted, flexible full-backs is not uncommon in the Premier League but Wright has described Chelsea’s tactic as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘very worrying’.
England right-back Reece James was only named on Chelsea’s bench at St James’ Park before being introduced at half time.
‘It is crazy when you look at who Enzo Maresca has got on the bench and he’s still doing that [playing Caicedo at right-back],’ Wright said on The Kelly & Wrighty Show.
‘Teams are going to attack him all the time. Whatever he’s saying about getting into midfield and controlling it, you’ve got to get control of the game.
‘It all comes down to the manager. Unless something has happened with Reece James and Malo Gusto, I don’t know what’s happened.
‘That, for me, is unacceptable… He’s making decisions that are very worrying, especially in that particular incident.’
The finger of blame was pointed at Caicedo for Newcastle’s 2nd-minute opener against Chelsea.
‘He definitely switched off. Newcastle started so quickly, perfect start for them,’ former England striker Peter Crouch told TNT Sports.
‘Initially he does really well, Caicedo stays with Anthony Gordon and then they just get themselves in a right mess here.
‘Sandro Tonali’s pressing is unbelievable, his physicality, he’s always on the front foot. And then Caicedo just switches off.’
Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Last week I was surprised that Caicedo didn’t get sent off with the challenges he was putting in.
‘So what do Newcastle do? First minute they put the ball in behind him to Anthony Gordon and that eventually led to the goal.
‘When he is back there he just seems rash and out of position. He is Chelsea’s player of the year this season but he is out of position and Anthony Gordon is already giving him a tough time.’
James struggled with injury problems earlier in the season but has featured heavily in the second-half of the campaign and was believed to be fit to start against Newcastle.
Discussing James’ intriguing situation at Stamford Bridge, ex-Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said: ‘Reece James is Maresca’s club captain. Something has obviously happened.
‘I know he’s had his injury problems, but he’s ready now, he’s been training for months, he’s had opportunities to play.
‘I can’t understand some of the decisions Maresca has made regarding the Conference League. Resting players in the Premier League to play weakened opposition, with all due respect.
‘He’s been resting some players in the Premier League. If he doesn’t finish in the Champions League it’s a failure, a total failure.’
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