Levi Colwill believes Chelsea’s players are much more comfortable with Enzo Maresca’s system as they prepare to face Manchester City on Sunday.
It’s been all change at Stamford Bridge this summer with Maresca replacing Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout as a new era begins at the club.
The Italian guided Leicester City to the Championship title last season but this will be a huge step up and he will be under pressure to win silverware and get Chelsea back into the Champions League.
Chelsea players getting more comfortable with Maresca’s system
The Blues have endured a mixed pre-season and only managed one win from their six games, but ultimately results aren’t the most important thing and there were positives to be taken.
For many of the squad they are being asked to play a way they haven’t done before and that’s going to take time to adapt to and naturally there are going to be mistakes whilst the players adjust.
Chelsea put in arguably their best performance of pre-season against Inter Milan last weekend and Colwill, who is likely to start the season as one of Maresca’s first choice centre backs believes the players are getting more comfortable with the 44-year-old’s system.
“As a coach, he is very hands-on, he gives every player the same amount of time and effort, everyone can see it on the pitch, the difference,” he told Chelsea’s website.
“The players are much more comfortable with the system. You can tell by the patterns of play and doing what the gaffer wants, which is working. We are creating opportunities to score.”
The 21-year-old spent a lot of last season playing at left back under Mauricio Pochettino and made 32 appearances in all competitions, but didn’t feature in the final 12 Premier League games due to a toe injury.
Colwill is preparing for his second season at his boyhood club and has taken Thiago Silva’s number six shirt for the upcoming campaign.