Enzo Maresca has told his Chelsea players that they need to improve when they play five-man defences. The Blues came undone against Sunderland last weekend as the Black Cats secured a late 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge as Regis Le Bris opted to change his setup for the game in west London. And the Italian delivered a humorous anecdote about Ange Postecoglou's decision to use a five-man defence.
Getty Images SportPostecoglou's final throw of the dice revealed
Postecoglou lasted just 39 days as Nottingham Forest head coach having been relieved of his duties at the City Ground earlier this month. The Australian was brought in as Nuno's replacement during the September international break but failed to win any of the eight matches he managed.
Postecoglou's final game as Forest boss was a 3-0 loss at to Chelsea, with the former Tottenham man relieved of his duties just minutes after the defeat to the Blues. Second half goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James compounded a miserable afternoon for the Tricky Trees and ended the 60-year-old's brief stint back in the Premier League.
The former Forest head coach opted for a change in system in what proved to be his last match at the City Ground as a final throw of the dice, and Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was caught off guard by Postecoglou's decision having previously joked with the Greece-born manager about teams using a back five against the Club World Cup winners.
Advertisement'This is tough for players'
Maresca stated that a chance meeting with Postecoglou prior to his Forest appointment highlighted the issue that Chelsea face this season. "Before Ange took over at Nottingham Forest, we spoke at the LMA awards in London," the Italian began.
"I said: 'Ange, I've never seen your team use a back five – except for the last 10 minutes of the Europa League final against Manchester United.
"He laughed and said: 'I hate using a back five, but, as it was the last 10 minutes and we needed to win the trophy, we did.' Then we played Forest – it was a back five, and I had prepared for a back four!
"I again told the team that everything goes straight in the bin because it was a back five. This is tough for players."
AFP 'Throw all of the Sunderland preparation in the bin'
"When we have difficulties, we like to analyse," Maresca said when asked why teams are playing five-man defences against Chelsea this season. "I'm telling the players every day that, now, teams – probably because of what we achieved last season – have changed their approach against us.
"Sunderland played nine league games and they never used a back five from the start. Never. I watched them all, so we prepared for Sunderland with a back four.
"In the dressing room before the match, I told the players: 'Guys, throw all of the Sunderland preparation in the bin.' It's so difficult to change plan in just 10 minutes."
Sunderland's plan worked perfectly as they secured a 2-1 win in the capital to maintain their flying start to the Premier League season. Alejandro Garnacho fired Chelsea ahead early on before Wilson Isidor responded midway through the second half. Summer signing Chemsdine Talbi then struck in second half injury time as the Black Cats claimed a huge win.
Chelsea responded to Sunderland setback
Chelsea bounced back from last week's loss to Sunderland with victory over Wolves to book their place in the fifth round of the EFL Cup in midweek. However, the Blues made hard work of their game at Molineux, despite going in at the break three goals to the good as Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao put Chelsea into a commanding position.
Tolu Arokodare pulled one back for Wolves shortly after the break before David Moller Wolfe halved the deficit in the 73rd minute. Jamie Gittens settled Chelsea nerves with a thundering effort in the 89th minute after Maresca's side had been reduced to 10 men following Liam Delap's careless dismissal. Wolfe struck again in the 91st minute to set up a tense finish but Chelsea held out to progress to the next round of the competition.
Chelsea have a London derby on Saturday evening as they take on rivals Tottenham and face a third successive away match next week when they face Qarabag in the Champions League. The Blues then return to Stamford Bridge for the welcome of Wolves before the final international break of the year.