EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's secret 'football and chess' thesis that fuels everything he does - the 'surprise factor', how it changed Cole Palmer and which players are his king, rook and bishop
But in between talk of Pep Guardiola 's Manchester City and the Nimzo-Indian defence and other complicated comparisons which might make a few folks long for their filling, it provides a glimpse into the psyche of the coach hoping to strategise his first trophy with tonight.
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BBC News
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- BBC News
Wotton hails Torquay leaders after opening day win
Torquay United manager Paul Wotton praised the leadership of his senior players as his side opened the season with a convincing 3-1 win over Enfield Town in National League Gulls - who missed out on the title on goal difference in April and were knocked out of the play-offs in the semi-finals - were rarely troubled. Louis Dennis needed just nine minutes of his debut to open the scoring as he slotted home after Cody Cooke's flick-on, before Jordan Young curled in the second from just inside the scored a 41st-minute penalty to as the Gulls led 3-0 at the Parcell pulled a goal back for Enfield after an hour as the Gulls top the early National League South table after the biggest win on opening day."That is by far and away the least I've shouted during the 90 minutes," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon"Matt Worthington's doing my job, Louis Dennis is doing my job on the pitch, Sonny-Lo Everton's talking away, Matt Jay when he comes on, Munashe Sundire when he comes on, they're doing my job on the pitch which is important."I can't stand there screaming and shouting all the time, it can't be white noise for me because it becomes irrelevant."I liked us today. The first game of the season is a very strange thing."There'll be lots and lots of managers sat there conceded last minute equalisers or last minute winners."We've got three points, we're off and running. I couldn't be happier."
Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Newcastle's striker crisis WORSENS, the player who looked imperious and one certainty for Eddie Howe, writes CRAIG HOPE from Magpies' 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid
Newcastle signed off from pre-season with a 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid at St James' Park. The Spaniards scored both of their goals in the second half through Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann. It makes it zero wins from six this summer for the Magpies, and our chief football reporter, CRAIG HOPE, was there to bring you his big five takeaways… Gordon injury scare Another pre-season defeat for Newcastle and a sixth game without a win, but the biggest talking point on full-time was the late withdrawal of Anthony Gordon. The England star is currently Eddie Howe 's first pick as striker, in the continued absence of want-away Alexander Isak. But Gordon fell to the turf with what looked like a muscle problem and received treatment for a good couple of minutes before being replaced. He was able to walk, albeit gingerly, to the touchline, where he exited straight down the tunnel with a physio. It is a major concern for Howe and the player, who has spoken of his desire to hit the ground running this season after a turbulent summer 12 months ago. Howe needs new No 9 More news is awaited on Gordon's injury but, if his withdrawal proves to be precautionary, we got to see the front three that will kick off the season for Newcastle, even if that unit is made up of three wingers. Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes were in their natural positions out wide, with Gordon operating as striker. Pace, endeavour, danger, you can tick all of those boxes. But did they really look like scoring? Not really. Certainly not in the way the team did with Isak through the middle. Now that may feel like stating the obvious, but the obvious fact is that Newcastle need a striker. There is something about the balance of the side that does not feel right without one, and that was the case when Isak was missing last season. The pity for Gordon is that he has looked razor sharp this summer, and you wonder how effective he would be in his favoured left-wing berth. Elanga showed his pace on several occasions, beating his man on the right flank, but not enough came from it. There is work to do for Newcastle when it comes to scoring goals, you feel. It may be that the problem is only solved by signing those specialist centre-forwards. Deal agreed for defender There was some good news off the pitch for Newcastle, with a deal for Milan defender Malick Thiaw nearing completion. The clubs have agreed a package of around £34.3million and the German is due on Tyneside for a medical. Thiaw will provide competition at the heart of the defence, taking their stable to five. Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles started here, after last season's first-choice pairing Fabian Schar and Dan Burn played against Espanyol on Friday night. Long term, Newcastle will see Thiaw, 24, as the right-sided replacement for Schar, who turns 34 in December. His expected arrival will finally bring an end to links with Marc Guehi, the Crystal Palace defender who was the subject of a summer-long pursuit 12 months ago. But the question supporters were asking on full-time was… has 6ft 4in Thiaw ever deputised as a striker? Imperious Tonali superb again Sandro Tonali looked at his athletic and technical best, and Newcastle will need him to be. The midfielder was my pick as the team's player of the season last time around. Without a doubt, for me, the campaign hinged on the Italian being moved to a No.6 position. That was the domain he populated here and, even though up against top opposition, Tonali still looked imperious, the best midfielder on the pitch. Joelinton, too, looked strong, on the back of a knee injury. And when his fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes returns for the season opener at Aston Villa next weekend, the midfield band will be back together. And how Howe must hope they are in tune, given the difficulties of recent weeks, on and off the pitch. Tripper still a class act Kieran Trippier, against his former club, was another who looked more than ready for the new campaign. It was far from guaranteed he would still be at the club coming out of last season, but it now appears certain he will start the campaign at right back. Trippier remains a class act and one of the club's greatest signings - he will be a big player for them during the early weeks of a season that could well be a little bit bumpy.
BBC News
a minute ago
- BBC News
Solihull Moors 2-2 Forest Green Rovers
Ten-man Solihull rescued a point to record a 2-2 draw in their National League opener at home to Forest hosts were at a disadvantage from the sixth minute as on-loan Stoke midfielder Darius Lipsiuc was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Yahya the Moors took the lead just 10 minutes later as summer signing Oscar Rutherford opened his account on his debut with a diving visitors equalised nine minutes after the break as Christian Doidge headed home – after hitting the woodwork with his initial effort – from fellow second-half substitute Nick Haughton's turned the game around on the hour as he fired into the far corner but Solihull were not done yet and James Clarke levelled with 15 minutes report supplied by PA Media
