Malo Gusto names major difference between Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino before Chelsea's cup final
It’s fair to say that Enzo Maresca has taken Chelsea to another level since succeeding Mauricio Pochettino a year ago.
Mauricio Pochettino, who spent just one season at Chelsea, sat in the manager’s dugout during the 2023/24 season.
The Blues finished sixth in the Premier League under Pochettino. In the cup competitions, they were runners-up in the Carabao Cup and semi-finalists in the FA Cup. Eventually, he left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent before becoming the United States national side manager.
Enzo Maresca then stepped into the role as Chelsea head coach after Pochettino, and remarkably the 2024/25 season is still going for his squad of players. They finish the mammoth campaign on Sunday when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final.
Maresca should be delighted with securing fourth in the Premier League and winning the Conference League during his debut season in West London. It would be even sweeter if they can cause a major upset against PSG this weekend.
| Manager | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| Mauricio Pochettino | 51 | 27 | 10 | 14 |
| Enzo Maresca | 63 | 40 | 9 | 14 |
- READ MORE: Jamie Gittens reveals what Enzo Maresca did to convince him Chelsea were the ‘perfect’ club for him
Malo Gusto highlights tactical difference between Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino
Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto has been an important player for the club across the last two seasons, playing regularly under Pochettino then Maresca.
He thinks the major difference between the managers is the attention to detail from the current Blues boss.
When asked to compare Pochettino and Maresca, Gusto said via Zach Lowy’s X account: “It’s a bit different than last season for sure, in terms of details and the way we play, it’s much more about tactics, I would say.
“He’s a top coach; that’s why we are in the final—it’s because of him.”
Even when the team’s form dipped earlier in the season, Chelsea’s players remained happy with Maresca’s methods. The Italian coach is someone who is starting to really get the rewards for all the detail he puts into every match.
Joao Pedro described Maresca as “very intelligent”, and he’s only just started working with him following his summer arrival from Brighton.
Despite the fact there have been some bumps in the road this season at Chelsea, which isn’t surprising when you factor in the youth in the squad, Maresca has eventually shone to win over a lot of people that doubted him at the start.
Chelsea’s board have felt different about Enzo Maresca compared to Mauricio Pochettino
The respective seasons at Chelsea under Pochettino and Maresca certainly felt quite different from a fan perspective.
Therefore, it’s interesting to hear the ownership felt the difference as well.
Chelsea’s owners felt a major difference between Pochettino and Maresca because the latter has been viewed as ‘untouchable’ for now, with the expectation that he can develop into one of the best managers in the industry.
Without a doubt, Maresca has earned the right to give next season another crack in his second year at the club. That’s why it’s encouraging to see the amount of new signings arrive already this summer to boost the squad.
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