While holidaying in Marbella in June, Enzo Maresca watched Chelsea’s fixtures from 2023-24 back as homework, pen and paper at the ready to make notes. We can only speculate as to whether he spilled his margarita when he got to the 32nd minute of the Christmas Eve visit to Wolverhampton.
It was 0-0 when Raheem Sterling won possession by pressing Joao Gomes. He charged forward with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson ready for tap-ins on his right-hand side. Choosing to try to score himself, he failed one on one, Jose Sa making the save as Chelsea went on to lose 2-1.
Chelsea fans have since shared that clip on social media after learning Maresca has kicked Sterling out of first-team training. Cruel to celebrate, perhaps, but that is life as a Premier League superstar.
It was the£54million signing of Pedro Neto, and £44.5m arrival of Joao Felix, that pushed Sterling down the pecking order. Both could feature in Chelsea’s trip to Molineux on Sunday, most likely from the bench as Maresca still believes they need time to learn his precise tactical plan.
One reason Chelsea signed Neto and Felix is they suit the club’s ‘Swiss Army Knife’ approach to recruitment led by Joe Shields, their co-director of recruitment and talent, and Sam Jewell, their director of global recruitment.
Raheem Sterling does not fit Chelsea's 'Swiss Army Knife' system - he is not versatile
Enzo Maresca prizes versatility for a Chelsea side who could play up to 80 games this season
They search for players who can perform in more than one position. They then present the candidates to Maresca. He then provides his verdict to the sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, who get to work on negotiations.
Chelsea went into this summer wanting to build a squad ready to cope with playing as many as 80 matches this season, the plan being to take the Conference League and Club World Cup seriously. They want at least two players per position, which is where versatility can help.
It provides options, including if Maresca wishes to change systems for an upcoming clash. As well as copies of Chelsea’s games, Maresca had one other request of his new club while in Marbella.
He asked for access to their data room so he could pore over the performance information of each and every player. That includes percentages indicating how many minutes they spent in various positions, telling him how versatile they had been under his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino. Clearly, Maresca craved more, and he got his wish this summer.
Neto can be used on the left or right wings, in midfield, or as a false nine. He even popped up at right back for Wolves on occasion. Maresca particularly appreciates how he can use his pace to beat any man in a one-v-one situation when Chelsea isolate the opposition full back.
Felix can be used on the wings also, as an attacking midfielder or a false nine, where he would drop to add an extra option in Maresca’s pass, pass, pass style of play. Today would represent his second debut for Chelsea, his first in January 2023 seeing him red-carded 58 minutes in at Fulham after joining on loan.
New signing Pedro Neto can be used on both wings, in the midfield, or a false nine
Joao Felix can play on the wing, as a false nine, or in attacking midfield for the Blues
Sterling can still do a job on the left wing but that is not enough for Chelsea flexibility drive
They are not the only new signings who can deliver versatility. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is capable of filling the No 8 and No 10 holes and as a left-footer, he brings a balance to midfield.
Sterling can only watch on in envy until a transfer is finalised. He featured in all six of their pre-season friendlies, never having any indication that exile was coming. He even spoke to Mail Sport after facing Real Madrid in the United States, expressing his excitement for the season ahead.
Yet part of the problem for Sterling is when you think of the 29-year-old, your mind automatically logs him as a left winger. He can still do a job there, but it will not be for Chelsea.
If Chelsea are to become the greatest show on turf their hierarchy know it will take time. They are pledging to provide that to Maresca, his latest task being to make sure Neto and Felix are up to speed with what he wants out of them as they travel to Wolves.