Christopher Nkunku and his Chelsea teammates have been engaging in extensive training sessions under the guidance of their new manager, Enzo Maresca. Appointed in June, Maresca has commenced pre-season preparations with the squad earlier this month, and initial impressions indicate that the players are responding positively to his coaching style.
Levi Colwill has already praised Maresca, calling him “amazing” after just a few weeks of collaboration, hinting at a growing enthusiasm within the squad.
As Chelsea gears up for their first pre-season friendly against Wrexham on Thursday morning in the United States, all eyes will be on how the team implements what they’ve learned during training under Maresca’s leadership.
Maresca, known for his desire to establish dominance on the pitch, previously showcased this approach during his tenure at Leicester City, where statistics revealed an impressive average ball possession of 62.2%, ranking second in the Championship last season.
At Chelsea, Maresca appears intent on fostering a similar style of play. Nkunku shared insights about their training regimen, stating, “We’re already focusing heavily on ball possession. From the very first day, he emphasized the importance of being on the pitch to engage in practical football training. His philosophy revolves around maintaining control of the ball, and that’s what we’re currently working on.”
Eager to make an impact, Nkunku returned to training at Cobham ahead of schedule and is determined to maintain his fitness after a challenging season marred by injuries.
Once regarded as one of the top forwards in European football prior to his Chelsea arrival, Nkunku has yet to showcase his full potential at Stamford Bridge due to fitness issues. However, during his last two seasons at RB Leipzig, he netted an impressive 58 goals.
With Chelsea adopting a strategy that emphasizes ball control and creates numerous scoring opportunities, supporters may finally witness Nkunku’s goal-scoring prowess in the upcoming season.
