Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca makes honest admission over ex-Brighton stars ahead of clash
Enzo Maresca has been impressed by the players Chelsea have purchased from Brighton and spoken highly about the impact of Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella this season for the Blues
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorWhile Brighton fans prepare their best boos for the trip to Stamford bridge, owner Tony Bloom may well be rubbing his hands together.
Two new managers will be in the dugouts in Enzo Maresca and Fabian Hurzeler as Chelsea welcome the Seagulls on Saturday, but these are foes with familiar faces.
The Blues have splashed out £200m to sign Brighton's best in recent seasons. Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez all arrived from the Seagulls, in addition to Graham Potter as a short-lived head coach and Paul Winstanley as a sporting directors. Even Chelsea academy product Levi Colwill spent time on loan on the south coast.
That relationship has lent itself to a frosty reception with Brighton fans. And supporters have ensured those who have previously worn blue and white have an uncomfortable time.
It is not something Maresca is worried about as his side goes in search of a fourth win in succession, but their first at home in the Premier League this season. "Brighton fans may not be happy but the Brighton owner would be very happy," Maresca joked.
"It is a matter of balance. They are former players but the reason why they are at Chelsea and the reason why Chelsea paid money for them was because when they were at Brighton, their fans were happy at that moment. This is because Moi, Marc Cucurella, Robert and Levi, who was there on loan, are fantastic players. I am very happy to have them."
It has taken time for the former Brighton players to settle in, but Cucurella and Caicedo have slowly established themselves as key players for the Blues. In that time, Caicedo has worked with an external coach to help relieve him of pressure.
"What I can see, for some team-mates when I was a player, and now in the last five, six, seven years that I was a coach, I can see that for players that the club paid a lot, sometimes it’s a weight on their shoulders," Maresca said. "They think that because the club paid that amount of money, I need to be the best, the best, the best. And it’s not like this."
Chelsea's Italian head coach 'absolutely' wants to see Caicedo replicate the qualities he displayed for the Seagulls. The 44-year-old former Leicester boss thinks the Ecuador international can continue to offer more to his side.
"In this moment for us, he’s a very important player," Maresca added. "He’s doing well, especially off the ball. But he can do much, much, much better on the ball and be more brave, breaking lines. He is doing very well, but he can be even better on the ball."
Cucurella has started every Premier League game thus far under Maresca. The ex-Manchester City coach has found the Spaniard to be a useful asset due to his intelligence on the pitch.
"Marc is a very intelligent player," Maresca explained. "He is very clever. Against Bournemouth he played like an attacking midfielder, against West Ham he played like a holding midfielder.
"He is a versatile player and gives us different options. I don’t think the price should be a problem. Sometimes it can put them under pressure and it can be a big problem."
“Marc is one of those guys that when we ask him to do something we explain why. You can see in some players that even when you explain why they struggle a little bit to understand. Marc is one of those guys who immediately understands."
Maresca is able to welcome Romeo Lavia back to the fold for the visit of Brighton. The ex-Southampton midfielder has not featured in the Premier League since the opening day defeat to Manchester City.
The Chelsea boss is excited to have the 20-year-old at his disposal once again and expects him to provide a similar impact to Caicedo.
"More or less the same as Moi Caicedo," Maresca said. "He played one game for us this season against City, I think it was very good game from Romeo.
"I'm very excited thinking that soon we can have both Moi and Romeo fit 100% because I think both together playing that position they can give us a lot. They can compete and they can play together for sure."
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