He made them feel like they were the first team. He treated them like they were the first team. He made them understand that they were part of the bigger picture and that they were there to develop but also to win games. That was the biggest shift.
As for Maresca himself, he takes great pride in the progress of those players. It was very nice to see them grow, he said after his appointment at Parma. We had a really good group of players. They were really good professionals and really good players. I hope they keep growing because they have great potential.
That process of growth now continues for Maresca in his own career. The experience at Parma may have been brief but it was a stepping stone. Now, at Chelsea, the challenge is greater still but the principles remain the same.
It is a philosophy that he can trace back to those early days in Italy, to the lessons learned in chess, to the conversations with Guardiola, to the chess-like moves that he has made on the touchline. It is a philosophy that will be tested against Guardiola once more this weekend.
Maresca’s focus on technical work and tactical innovation continued to pay off, as Leicester performed admirably in the Championship and secured promotion back to the Premier League.
It is clear that Maresca’s time at City, both with the development squad and as Guardiola’s assistant, had a profound impact on his coaching philosophy and success. His ability to communicate clearly, coach effectively, and implement innovative ideas has made him a rising star in the world of football coaching. As he continues to grow and develop in his career, it will be interesting to see where his journey takes him next. It takes time for players to adapt and fully grasp the intricate details of a coach’s philosophy. Maresca’s work at Leicester City and now Chelsea shows that he is dedicated to implementing a style of play that prioritizes control and possession. This approach, similar to Guardiola’s, requires patience and commitment from both the players and the coaching staff. As teams in the Premier League continue to evolve, coaches like Maresca are at the forefront of pushing for a more controlled and possession-based style of play.