Enzo Maresca answers question about his “professional dad” and his preferred final opponent | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has just taken his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Conference League game against Djurgarden tomorrow night.

The Blues still have to navigate that game, but with a 4-1 lead in the bag and playing at home, it’s pretty much a done deal. Already the questions were about the final, and one interesting answer came when the Italian coach was asked about who he would prefer to face in the final.

Maresca on his “professional dad” vs. his old club

Enzo Maresca speaks to TNT Sport on the touchline for Chelsea.

Rather than give a boring, media trained answer about “not thinking about the final until we’re through the semi”, Maresca gave a quite detailed and interesting answer about whether he’d rather take on Real Betis or Fiorentina in the final in Wroclaw.

“To be honest, I said many times that I consider [Real Betis coach] Manuel Pellegrini one of my references, one of my professional dads because I worked with him for four years, two as a player, two as a coach. I spoke with him a lot,” Maresca explained.

“When I have some doubts I call him to try to solve my [problems]. I would be happy for Manuel Pellegrini. At the same time Fiorentina is an Italian club, I’m from Italy. I played one season as a player with Fiorentina but in this moment for us it’s [about] tomorrow’s game and then we’ll see about the final.”

Pellegrini an unusual reference point for technocratic Maresca

Interesting arguments both ways, then. It’s interesting to hear Pellegrini held up as his coaching “dads.” Even though they have a shared history together as player and coach, Maresca’s style (and personality) is so different to the Chilean’s that it’s hard to see the common threads sometimes.

Whoever we play, it will be a major step up from the teams we’ve faced so far.