Maresca pulled no punches on need for Colwill replacement
- Published
Enzo Maresca rarely says anything that could frustrate his bosses at Chelsea but he pulled no punches on Friday in his first news conference to preview the Premier League season.
He went public with his stance that he wants a new signing to replace defender Levi Colwill, who is expected to be out for the majority of the season after surgery on his knee, when he stated: "We need a central defender. We are looking for an internal solution but, as I said, the club know exactly what I think."
The Italian said Colwill's influence at Stamford Bridge is underrated, going into forensic detail about how his unique ability to build up from the back is not matched by alternatives on the club's books.
"When we build, we build with Levi in the middle. It's different to the player in the middle on the left side," Maresca explained.
"Last year, we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin [Adarabioyo]. Now Levi is out, the only one that he can do that job well is Tosin.
"[Jorrel] Hato is a new one. He never played as the guy in the middle last season. So it's not about being a central defender. Yes, [he is a] central defender. Can he do that? It's different, it's not just about that."
That stance not only risks upsetting his bosses, who want him to work with what he has got, but also those alternative options who are wanting the chance to step up, including Hato, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Josh Acheampong.
It also would rip up the club's transfer plans to strengthen in attack, with Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho the primary target, and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons also under consideration.