Enzo Maresca and Chelsea forced to adapt after Manchester United manager change

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said the sacking of Erik ten Hag has forced him to rethink his preparations for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.

The game at Old Trafford will be United’s first in the Premier League after a poor start to the season prompted them to sack their coach of almost two-and-a-half years and appoint assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim boss.

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim has been closely linked with the role, but if the appointment is not made by the weekend it would mean a reunion on the bench for Maresca and former United striker van Nistelrooy, who played together during the year at Malaga between 2011 and 2012.

It also meant extra homework for the Blues coach, who had to unearth footage of PSV Eindhoven’s former understudy coach.

“I think it will be Ruud (in charge),” Maresca said. “He’s my friend, we played together, spent a year together in Malaga and we still keep in touch.

“We started watching some PSV games. We have already watched many Manchester United games. I’m sad for Eric and at the same time happy for Ruud. Hopefully I can see him on Sunday.”

Before that, Chelsea face Newcastle at St James’ Park in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday.

St James’s Park is calling. 📞 pic.twitter.com/wgkbvg73Nl

— Chelsea (@ChelseaFC) October 29, 2024

Last season, Mauricio Pochettino’s side reached the final of the tournament but were thwarted by Liverpool in their bid to secure their first major domestic trophy since 2018.

The 1-0 extra-time defeat at Wembley by the Reds due to injuries to senior players drew much criticism, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville famously calling Pochettino’s expensively assembled squad a “billion pound bottle job” .

Chelsea’s average age that day was around two years younger than Jurgen Klopp’s side, and Liverpool boasted a wealth of experience in their starting line-up.

“I didn’t hear (Neville’s) comment,” Maresca said. “But I still remember watching TV and it showed the number of finals Liverpool players had played and the number of finals Chelsea players had played. The difference was huge. This shows the difference between the two clubs at the moment.

Enzo Maresca has his Chelsea squad ready ahead of our trip to Tyneside. #Carabao Cup. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/EijdtjigUV

— Chelsea (@ChelseaFC) October 29, 2024

“The reason why I say at the moment that we are not close (with Liverpool) is because you need to live the moments, you need that experience to improve the situation.”

There are likely to be massive changes to the squad that beat Newcastle in the league on Sunday, with Eddie Howe’s side facing Maresca’s second XI.

It means backup Philip Jorgensen will score, but despite the summer signing impressing in cup competitions, the head coach has said there is no chance of replacing first-choice man Robert Sanchez.

“Right now number one is Robert,” Maresca said. “In football things can change game by game, but if you ask me now, number one is Robert. There is no doubt.”