Enzo Maresca’s appointment at Chelsea has catapulted the club into the top four and made them one of the Premier League’s most attractive teams to watch.
The owners were chastised for parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino at the close of the previous season, after the Argentine finished sixth.
However, the west Londoners’ outstanding record under Maresca has propelled them to the top four.
The co-owners, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, are finally putting things right at Stamford Bridge.
Since taking over from the extremely successful Roman Abramovich in May 2022, their ownership has been fraught with controversy.
Chelsea is experiencing its most thrilling era since Abramovich’s departure, thanks to the new manager and his style of play.
The Italian coach is getting the most out of several of his players, but five have particularly stood out and improved this season.
Chelsea broke the British transfer record twice in 2023, first for Enzo Fernandez in January (106.8 million) and then for Moises Caicedo in the summer (115 million).
The Ecuadorian comes with high expectations following a successful tenure at Brighton & Hove Albion, when he was considered as one of the Premier League’s best defensive midfielders.
Caicedo, 23, failed to reproduce his Brighton form under Pochettino in a season during which opposing fans labelled him a failure.
He failed to cope with the pressure of the big-money move, and his relationship with Fernandez deteriorated.
Nicolas Jackson was considered a disappointment in the first half of his rookie season at Chelsea.
Chelsea paid 32 million for the Senegalese striker, who appeared to be a raw talent who battled with goal-scoring ability and discipline.
Jackson, 23, is performing admirably for Maresca. He is one of the Premier League’s most astute forwards, thanks to his quickness, positioning, and movement.
He has six goals and three assists in ten league appearances this season, including a brace and an assist in a 3-0 victory over West Ham United.
Levi Colwill’s future was a source of curiosity in the summer of 2023, but he instead signed a new six-year contract, turning down Liverpool.
The Blues’ coaching staff were aware of his abilities, and he was a steady performer under Pochettino last season, serving as a versatile left-back.
Maresca hasn’t deployed Colwill, 21, as a left-back because the three-cap England international is an indisputable starter at centre-back.
He has become Chelsea’s finest defender, taking on the position of defensive leader following Thiago Silva’s departure.
Noni Madueke was on the outside of the first squad at Stamford Bridge under Pochettino, and there were rumours of his departure this summer.
The English winger became disgruntled with his limited playing time, starting only 13 of 23 league games and falling down the pecking order.
Madueke, 22, scored a hat-trick against Wolves in a 6-2 victory in August, demonstrating his development under Maresca.
He has four goals in nine league appearances, earning him a call-up to the England squad and three caps with the Three Lions.
Romeo Lavia had a dreadful start to his Chelsea career, missing all but one game in the 2023-24 season following a 58 million transfer from Southampton.
The Belgian’s arrival was examined, not least because he replaced Conor Gallagher, the Blues’ captain for the majority of last season, who was sold off to Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Lavia, 20, is keeping Fernandez out of the team with his consistency and composure on the ball.
Maresca will be hoping he stays fit for the remainder of the season, as one of the Premier League’s finest midfield combinations is developing between the one-cap Belgian and Caicedo.
