If you repeat the same mistake I will bench you” – Enzo Maresca threatens Chelsea star despite Southampton win

Maresca’s time at Chelsea has been characterized by difficulties in the goalkeeping position. At first, he publicly supported Robert Sanchez despite a series of mistakes. However, after a notably poor display against Manchester City in January, Sanchez was replaced by the 22-year-old Danish goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen. Jorgensen, too, has struggled, especially after conceding a late goal in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend.

In the match against Southampton, Jorgensen’s ball distribution from the back caused some nervousness among the fans at Stamford Bridge. Maresca defended his goalkeeper, saying, “My message to Filip was, ‘If you play long ball, I will change you.’ So he was just doing what I said to him.” Despite this instruction, Jorgensen attempted eight passes longer than 30 yards but completed only half of them. In contrast, he completed 100% of his 28 shorter passes.

Southampton’s manager, Ivan Juric, had tried to exploit any potential weaknesses in Chelsea’s play by pressing high and aggressively. However, his team failed to take advantage of this approach and couldn’t break through Chelsea’s defense during the match.

Maresca acknowledged the difficulties his goalkeepers face in his system but stressed the importance of following the game plan. He remarked, “It’s difficult for Filip, it’s difficult for Robert when he was playing, I think it’s difficult for all the keepers. But they should just follow the plan.”

This situation highlights Maresca’s commitment to a possession-based style of play, even if it comes with risks in the defensive third. His willingness to make tough decisions shows his determination to instill discipline and tactical compliance within the squad.

In the broader context of Chelsea’s season, this approach underscores Maresca’s focus on creating a unified team capable of executing his strategic vision, as the team continues to face challenges in both domestic and European competitions.