Maresca on taking Lippi, Guardiola and Cruyff lessons to Chelsea

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Susy Campanale | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 11:20 AM ET

Enzo Maresca explains what football approaches he is trying to use at Chelsea, learned from Marcello Lippi, Pep Guardiola, and Johan Cruyff. ‘I try to follow his example. I try.’

He is only the latest Italian tactician to succeed abroad, securing silverware with the Europa Conference League trophy, but also qualifying for the Champions League thanks to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

“We are a year ahead of schedule with Champions League qualification, as the club had asked me to achieve that in the space of two seasons,” Maresca told the Corriere della Sera newspaper in Italy.

“With regards to the Conference League, it’s natural that the appeal of this tournament is different to other cup competitions, but as I said in the first meeting, if Chelsea qualified for that, it means we deserved to play in it and would try to win. So we won.”

Lessons learned by Maresca

Maresca learned his trade working as an assistant for Vincenzo Montella, Manuel Pellegrini and Guardiola, before branching out to gain promotion with Leicester City, then get the bump up to Chelsea.

It is a quote from another great coach of the past, Cruyff, that Maresca uses as his mantra: “When you play a match, it is statistically proven that players actually have the ball 3 minutes on average. What do you do during the 87 minutes when you do not have the ball? That is what determines whether you’re a good player or not.”

This is a phrase that Maresca has written out on his WhatsApp profile, one he got written up on the walls of the locker room at both Leicester City and Chelsea.

“The players need to understand that phrase. It doesn’t minimise the importance of talent, but it underlines how you can make yourself useful even when you don’t see the ball that often,” he explains.

“Marcello Lippi was the greatest teacher in terms of individual motivation. His ability to speak to each player, get inside their heads and motivate them in the right way for that particular individual, was exceptional. I try to follow his example. I try.

“Chelsea chose me because they had the idea I could grow along with the team, because I had done well and obviously because I came from Guardiola’s school of football.”

Maresca is in a position to know the importance of youth, having coached the Manchester City Under-23 side.

“Look at Cole Palmer. In the City elite youth team, I had to develop a superior talent, while today at Chelsea I get to enjoy a supreme talent. And every day, I try to improve him in some way.”

Maresca’s old boss Guardiola had some difficulties this season with Manchester City, so can he get back on his feet?

“After eight extraordinary seasons, he can be forgiven for getting half a campaign wrong. Some doubt he’ll be competitive again? Come on, now. I know that I am biased, having had the opportunity to work alongside him, I confess that I see football through his eyes.”

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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