“I don’t understand” – Maresca’s treatment of talented young player still a mystery to punwdits | OneFootball

On the London is Blue podcast this week they were discussing Josh Acheampong and how he had got on in the game against Atalanta in midweek.

There have long been cries from fans for Enzo Maresca to use the young talent more, and he finally got his chance in the Champions League.

Maresca must trust Josh more after another good performance

Josh Acheampong battles for the ball. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“I want to see what happens to Josh after this,” their pundit Nathalie Tavares said.

“Because he had a solid game again, and the last time he had a solid game he was on the bench for like five games. So yeah, we do have the cup game against Cardiff, so I do expect proper rotation.”

We’re sure he will see him in that game, but when else could we see him? What more does he have to do to prove he’s one of the best options we have, both at right back and centre back?

Presenter Nick Verlaney pointed out that Ademola Lookman got in behind the full back a couple of times, but also that he “has the pace to recover… he made a great slide tackle. He’s doing the right stuff every time he’s in there. I don’t understand why Maresca isn’t trusting him in the same way [as the others].

You can see them discussing the situation in the clip embedded here:

In other news…

There are big questions about what team Enzo Maresca should pick for this weekend, and if he were to go purely by the goal and assist stats per 90 he would have a new look front 4 picked.

Enzo Maresca has big questions to answer tactically, especially over breaking down defences when teams sit deep. It’s something he hasn’t cracked in his time at Chelsea, as we discuss in the piece here.