Maresca is sad because a deal for a defender who was close to joining Chelsea has been called off! | OneFootball

What made the Italian sad?

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Beneath the surface of a bustling transfer window at Chelsea, a current of discontent flows from the manager's office. Despite the club's characteristically active dealings in the market, a key piece of the puzzle was left unclaimed: a new centre-back. This single, unresolved issue has cast a shadow over the new era at Stamford Bridge, leaving Italian manager Enzo Maresca disgruntled.

Insiders, such as Rahman Osman, suggest that this frustration runs deeper than one missing signing. Those close to Maresca reveal a manager genuinely convinced of the squad's inherent flaws.

He is said to hold a firm, and perhaps concerning, belief that the current roster simply lacks the requisite quality to mount a serious challenge for the game's highest honors, be it the Premier League title or the Champions League.

This brewing internal assessment will face an immediate test on the European stage. All eyes will be on Chelsea as they prepare to host Benfica on Tuesday, September 30th. When the whistle blows at 21:00 CET, it will be more than just three points on the line; it will be the first real measure of whether Maresca's concerns are prescient or premature.