We tested Maresca in the Champions League: he has shown character and a masterclass; he got an A+
Srećko Šijaković 
It was a very important match for Enzo Maresca in the Champions League to Azerbaijan; the trip to Baku only looked like a Conference League trip by the distance Chelsea had to travel to be in the stadium in Baku. It looked like it; it was very similar for Enzo Maresca, and in the beginning, he realized this trip and the following match were coming too easily. He chose the team that would be very good in the Conference League but not in the Champions League.
His team played very well but made so many mistakes and was created so unwell; however, he overturned everything with the substitutions at the beginning of the second half when he switched, with three substitutions, and was spot right with Garnacho, Enzo Fernández, and Liam Delap. He substituted Andrey Santos, Gittens, and a very inactive George in the attacking position.
Guidelines
- Maresca had an exam in the Champions League — the first team lineup looked like last season’s European campaign in the Conference League. It was not good enough for this level.
- Had an approach that was not good in the match.
- Made three substitutions at the beginning of the second half.
- Critical impact of Gittens, João Pedro, George, without chances, and Hato. The tree of four replaced very quickly
- Andrey Santos was replaced, who had a yellow card.- He has learned his lesson with red cards this season.
- He also replaced Andrey Santos, who was tired, booked, and could be sent off — a very good decision. This is a great tactical improvement.
- After seeing the seriousness of the situation, Maresca reacted and chose the perfect substitutes. He saved Chelsea and had a completely different team in the second half than in the first one.
- He changed the situation on the pitch completely. Regretted João Pedro, Gittens, and George.
The key moment for Qarabag- Cucurella’s arrogance
The very great footballers of Qarabag conceded the goal early, then you could see Cucurella go upfront in desire to score. He deliberately injured a Qarabag player in the middle of the pitch, avoided a yellow card, and after this Qarabag scored two goals and reversed the match. They got angry with Cucurella and started scoring.
Hato made a clear penalty for Qarabag.
- The pair of central defenders were criminal together; their combination was weak, and they were very insecure. They are not good enough, and Hato should not be considered a central defender at all — he can only be a left-back.
- Reece James was fantastic and can play both right-back and as a central midfielder.
- Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo can’t play together — he needs strong central defenders such as Wesley Fofana, Acheampong, Chalobah, and Badiashile.
- He sees perfectly the situation on the field and leads the team towards that — he is not using defensive substitution player-for-player. Maresca is looking forward and seeing who can score for his team. It is a situation in which Chelsea should attack and not defend. He was not closing the match.
- He perfectly knows what he has in attack on the bench and in defense also. He is not counting on a defensive approach where he could replace a player with players— Chalobah for Tosin or Fofana to make a better and more secure defense. Instead of that, he replaced João Pedro, who was so weak, with Buonanotte.
- Perfect attacking approach and substitutes. Also, he knows Buonanotte has a better chance to score than Marc Guiu, and he was the only unused Chelsea substitute in attack.
- So he repaired the team. He did not want to cover the defense; he used Caicedo very visibly. He improved with Facundo Buonanotte and was able to draw in this very hard match with a fantastic team that has reached its seventh point in this season’s Champions League, with the same amount of points as Chelsea had after the match.
- He showed character, knowledge, guts, calmness, intelligence, and lucidity in this test.
- This is Enzo Maresca’s first season at the highest level in the Champions League and shows his great abilities in leading the team from the bench. He is a true Chelsea master and a leader of great kind. His knowledge is visible in not playing Guiu, who would turn a match into a very different way and outcome.
Qarabag is a very great factor in the Champions League and can be very deadly for many favorites they are going to challenge. They are uneasy to beat, they are good at positioning, can run very well, and can be so deadly in counterattacks. Their team is strong, compact, experienced, well-built, and they are not falling easily under pressure. They are not leaving open spaces, and their Qurbanov is a first-class manager and tactical innovator.
They will pass until the elimination rounds and will have many more points than they have now. Chelsea has to be pleased with this result, as Qarabag is. It was a great Champions League match; it was two completely different Chelsea teams, and they avoided conceding in the second half at all. They were brave and deadly with Estevão and Buonanotte, and some great contributions from the Garancho side
Chelsea needs to put Gittens, Jorel Hato, Acheampong, and João Pedro, Gittens on hold and not give them playing time at all or reduce it maximally. They were very poor, not on the level, even a bit. On the other side, Estevão, Delap, Facundo Buonanotte, and Garnacho — they should be in the starting lineup. They are stronger players and have overturned everything poorly done by the starters.
- So Maresca should play his best players in the team instead of playing Gittens. He could start playing the best players.
- Maresca needs to reduce rotations in the team since many Chelsea players have been eliminated from the squad today.
- He has to put a good starting lineup and not reverse everything every time with substitutes.
- He needs a good pair of central defenders. He has in the team.
- He is not thinking defense in spite of disastrous play by his central backs.
- He understands the game, knows Buonanotte is more dangerous than striker Marc Guiu. He impressed.
Maybe many people are writing on Twitter, even now, about Chelsea losing points to Qarabag, but that is not important. Chelsea and Qarabag are very great teams, have played an extremely good match, and are going to be very good in the rest of the Champions League campaign. They have the same number of points, and both have shown their masterclass tonight.
Liam Delap was great for Chelsea, and he created many when he was subbed in. He was opening well, and it was a very important thing for the Chelsea Football Club. They instantly played much better and secured avoiding losing to a very great Quarabag team.
If it were not Enzo Maresca leading the Chelsea team on the pitch, we would be watching a hard defeat tonight that would cost Chelsea by a massive blowout, and would have brought uncertainty into the team. He is a true Chelsea manager and leader, and his ability to adapt to opponents and react quickly and wisely is making Chelsea so great.
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