Latest news with #Maresca
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liam Delap set for Chelsea medical as Blues beat rivals to land Ipswich ace
Chelsea are moving forward ahead of completing their first summer transfer after triggering Ipswich star Liam Delap's release clause with the striker now preparing for a medical Liam Delap is set to undergo his Chelsea medical on Monday after the Blues triggered his release clause with Ipswich Town. Enzo Maresca's side are set to beat Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton to his signature as they look to get their first piece of business over the line. The transfer window opens for the first time on Sunday, with the west London side able to get a deal over the line in time for their Club World Cup campaign which is set to get underway in June. Though the beginning of the tournament does clash with England's under-21 European Championship campaign. Chelsea met the £30million release clause in Delap's Ipswich contract, which came into play following the Tractor Boys' relegation. The striker scored 12 goals in his debut Premier League season having made the move from Manchester City last summer. Delap is familiar with Blues boss Maresca from the Italian's time working with City's youth setup, and a deal to bring the forward to Stamford Bridge is set to get a step closer, per the Athletic. Chelsea's qualification for the Champions League, secured on the final day of the Premier League season, is said to have been crucial for Delap opting for the side. It is also said that the ability to become a first-choice option was important to the 22-year-old, with the Blues seemingly offering the best combination of those two factors. Maresca's only senior forward over the last season has been Nicolas Jackson who scored 13 goals in 34 appearances. Maresca spoke highly of Delap's qualities during the season. The young forward posed Chelsea problems as Ipswich gained four points against their Premier League rivals in 2024/25. The Blues' head coach said earlier this year: 'In terms of numbers, he's doing fantastic. I think he's scored 12 [Premier League] goals already. 'It's not just in terms of his numbers — [it's] the way he plays and fights and is always there. But he's an Ipswich player. He's an enemy on Sunday because we need to beat them, and then after the game I wish him all the best for the future. 'In the first game, he was quite good for them. We need to deal with that, and we need to do much, much better compared to the first game [the loss at Ipswich].' Manchester United were said to already have agreed the framework of a deal for Delap, including over personal terms with Delap's representatives. A deal was ready to move quickly if Delap chose Old Trafford as his destination but ultimately, a Chelsea transfer has proved more alluring.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
What Chelsea must add in 'vital summer'
Enzo Maresca has done a fantastic job in his first season at did well to cut his squad early, and has dealt effectively with the pressure and noise that comes with managing a club that has spent so much long ago, there was talk about whether he would keep his job if the season ended poorly, but he has to now. He has begun to build and has tasted a little bit of success. There is no point in changing the continue improving, though, he does need to add some experience. There was a point earlier in the season when it appeared Chelsea could be in the title race, but Maresca came out and said the team were not ready. That certainly had a negative impact on an inexperienced squad and form dipped felt as if the players took their foot off the pedal a little bit and realised the pressure was not on them to win the Premier League this year. That can happen with young glimpses, Chelsea have shown they can compete at a high level, but for the majority of the season, they have also shown how young they are. That is why it is important to have senior players around to get the balance right.I know the club's transfer strategy, but sometimes plans must change if the need is so it stands, this young squad cannot compete to win the Premier League next season. I have to be realistic about need a goalkeeper, an experienced centre-half and a striker who score upwards of 20 goals. If they get that, there is no reason they cannot start talking about competing - but given the money spent, it is an oversight that so much more experience in key areas is at Arsenal these past few years trying to win the title with a young squad - it is really hard to do. There is definitely a balance to be found. To sustain a challenge, you really need at least one or two who have been in those situations has shown enough to earn the trust of the hierarchy, but this is a vital summer to add the required experience to push Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chelsea set to trigger £25million clause to complete summer signing
Chelsea Consider Sancho Gamble as Maresca Evaluates Attacking Options Loan Spell Sparks Reassessment Chelsea are weighing up whether to make Jadon Sancho's stay at Stamford Bridge permanent, with iNews reporting that a decision could be made in the coming weeks. The Manchester United winger, who initially struggled to find his rhythm under Enzo Maresca, has since shown signs of revival — enough, perhaps, to shift internal discussions around triggering the £25 million clause negotiated at the start of his loan. Advertisement The Blues had previously considered pulling out of the agreement. As reported in March, Chelsea were 'considering ripping up the agreement to sign Sancho for £25m at the end of his loan after the Manchester United forward struggled to hit top form for Enzo Maresca's side.' Photo: IMAGO However, sources now suggest the club is rethinking that stance. Performances in the latter stages of the season, most notably in Chelsea's Europa Conference League final victory over Real Betis, are said to have impressed Maresca. Maresca's Growing Belief According to a source close to the player, 'Chelsea may reconsider, with Maresca won over by some recent performances.' The manager's belief in Sancho's potential could be a pivotal factor in Chelsea opting to proceed with the deal. Advertisement From a financial perspective, the £25m fee is considered reasonable by modern standards for a player of Sancho's profile. However, Chelsea would still be required to pay £5m in compensation to United should they opt to back out. That clause had not been considered a major deterrent, but it now seems increasingly likely the full agreement will be honoured. Photo IMAGO Maresca's system places a premium on fluidity and technical precision in wide areas, attributes that Sancho has historically thrived upon when operating with confidence. If his recent resurgence can be sustained, the long-term benefits could outweigh the short-term risk. United's Urgency to Offload From Manchester United's perspective, the urgency to move Sancho on is mounting. With the club operating under financial constraints and no European football next season, offloading fringe or out-of-favour players is seen as essential to fund incoming business. Advertisement Sancho has been linked with Bayer Leverkusen, but as iNews notes, 'Erik ten Hag's appointment as Xabi Alonso's successor may put pay to that move happening given their fractured relationship.' Photo IMAGO This leaves Chelsea as perhaps the most viable option. United are hopeful that the £25m fee will help facilitate Ruben Amorim's squad rebuild. The funds would not only ease budgetary pressures but also support a reshaping of the frontline, with targets such as Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko on the radar. Long-Term Investment or Short-Term Gamble? For Chelsea, the question remains whether Sancho can return to the heights once expected of him. Still only 24, his talent has never been in doubt, but consistency and mentality have repeatedly been flagged. With Maresca in his corner, however, the environment may finally be conducive to a proper renaissance. Advertisement Chelsea have form for backing players through adversity, and Sancho's case fits that mould. If the deal is finalised, the next challenge will be ensuring that his trajectory continues upward. Our View – EPL Index Analysis Yes, Sancho hasn't hit the heights people thought he would after arriving to the Premier League from Dortmund, but there's something different about this moment. He's been written off by many, yet when you watch him under Maresca, you get the sense something's building. That final against Real Betis? That was a different Sancho. He looked sharp, engaged, and most importantly, trusted. If Maresca sees the potential to build around that version of Sancho, then £25 million starts to look like a no-brainer. He's still young, still coachable, and clearly hungry to prove a point. Advertisement And let's be honest — this feels like one of those transfers that could go down as a masterstroke or a missed opportunity depending on the gamble. But that's the sort of risk Chelsea need to be taking right now. Smart, strategic risks that show faith in talent. Sancho could be the difference in those tight European games next season. In a market that's spiralling, finding value is rare. Sancho, at £25 million, might just be that piece of gold hiding under the surface.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Maresca blasts critics after Chelsea qualify for Champions League
The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League, shattering seventh-placed Forest's own bid for a top five berth. 26 May 2025 09:11am Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca (R) reacts at Chelsea's English midfielder #20 Cole Palmer during the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on May 25, 2025. (Photo by Ben STANSALL/AFP) NOTTINGHAM - Enzo Maresca launched a foul-mouthed rant at Chelsea's critics after his team qualified for the Champions League with a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Levi Colwill's 50th-minute tap-in booked Chelsea's return to Europe's elite club competition after a two-year absence. Chelsea players celebrate after the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on May 25, 2025. Chelsea won the match 1-0. (Photo by Ben STANSALL/AFP) The Blues finished fourth in the Premier League, shattering seventh-placed Forest's own bid for a top five berth. Chelsea can complete a memorable first season in charge for Maresca by beating Real Betis in Wednesday's UEFA Conference League final in Poland. They are aiming to become the first team to win all three UEFA competitions after their past success in the Champions League and Europa League. Despite Chelsea's relative success, criticism has never been far away for Maresca, whose conservative tactics have been jeered by frustrated fans at times. Having led the youngest team in Premier League history into the Champions League, Maresca was happy to shove the taunts back down his critics' throats. "I didn't have any doubt, to be honest, about the players, I said that the doubt was from outside," he said. "All the ones that think they are the answer, or all the ones that they are the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough. "They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. "Unfortunately for them, they'll be all wrong, the ones that think they are the truth and they have the answer for everything. "In English we say 'F Off' to all of them. The players, they deserve that, I have said before, they have been fantastic." 'It was not a disaster' The defiant Maresca, who was hired from Leicester after winning promotion last year and is in only his second season as a manager, maintained his combative blast as he demanded respect for Chelsea's top five finish. "Manchester City lost here. Arsenal drew here. Liverpool drew here. Chelsea won. It's not easy. The players, they show how good they are," he said. "We are in business where the people judge us because of the results, and today, in case we were not able to win the game, probably all of you judge this season a disaster, but it was not a disaster." Forest had to win and hope other results went their way to reach the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81. Despite Newcastle and Aston Villa losing, Forest will play in the third-tier UEFA Conference League next season. Nuno Espirito Santo's side were able to win only one of their last five games, but the Portuguese said the season was a success. "When you look back at all of the season, I think it's a good season. We have been able to improve many things in our team and we have a good platform," he said. "We should be proud of the way we have a group of people who want to help each other to improve, including through bad times like today. We stick together. "We are disappointed. But in a couple of hours you will look back and realise it's been good. "They gave it their all. That's why I say we should be proud. Now we have to rest, and deservedly so." - AFP More Like This
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
History-makers Chelsea roar back to beat Real Betis in UEFA Conference League final
First club to complete clean sweep of European trophies WROCLAW: Chelsea roared back to beat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw on Wednesday, becoming the first club to complete a clean sweep of European trophies. Manuel Pellegrini's enterprising Betis caught the favorites cold with an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli against a flat-footed and listless Chelsea. But Enzo Maresca's second-half substitutions injected energy and Cole Palmer changed the complexion of the game in a five-minute spell, setting up Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson to score. Substitute Jadon Sancho made the game safe in the 83rd minute as the Spanish side faded in their first European final and Moises Caicedo added gloss to the scoreline. Chelsea are the first club to win the full set of five UEFA club tournaments - the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup and the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup. They have also won their first silverware since Todd Boehly's consortium took over from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022, following an era of unprecedented success for the club. Boehly was on the pitch at the end, savoring the win that seemed unlikely when Betis were in control in the first half. Chelsea have ended the season with a flourish after also securing a place in next season's Champions League following a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League. Maresca, in his first season at Stamford Bridge, said he hoped Conference League glory would be a launchpad for the club. 'The club have invested lots of money in the last three or four years, so they are also waiting for results,' Maresca told TNT Sports. 'Hopefully this can be a starting point and from tonight, from this season, (we are) building something important.' The Spanish side went ahead in the ninth minute through Ezzalzouli, who scored the goal against Fiorentina that took his side to the final. Malo Gusto lost the ball and it broke to Betis captain Isco, who produced a clever pass to find Ezzalzouli on the edge of the box, with the Moroccan drilling a left-footed shot across Filip Jorgensen. Minutes later Marc Bartra tried his luck from distance but this time Jorgensen was equal to the task, producing a flying save. Urged on by their massed ranks of fans, Betis went close again when Johnny Cardoso's shot from inside the box was deflected behind. The Premier League side were enjoying the bulk of possession but struggling to create meaningful chances, with Betis defending well and Isco, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, pulling the strings. Palmer magic Maresca brought on James for the struggling Gusto at the break and the English side looked livelier. Pellegrini was forced a change when goalscorer Ezzalzouli was forced off, with Jesus Rodriguez coming on to replace him. Maresca also made a number of other changes, including bringing on Sancho, but it took two moments of magic from Palmer to turn the tide. The England man produced a pinpoint in swinging cross from the right that found onrushing Argentina midfielder Fernandez, who got between two defenders to head the ball past Adrian in the 65th minute. Suddenly Chelsea's tails were up and the fans behind the goal were in full voice. Five minutes later Palmer twisted and turned before producing another superb cross that Jackson bundled into the net. Jackson should have scored a second goal but a heavy touch allowed the Betis goalkeeper to gather. But Sancho made it 3-1 when he combined with fellow substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and finished from an angle and Caicedo added a fourth from the edge of the box. Victory for Chelsea breaks an astonishing cycle of wins for Spanish teams. Taking into account World Cups, European Championships, Champions League and the UEFA Cup/Europa League, of the previous 27 men's finals involving Spanish teams, all 27 had had Spanish winners. Four Spanish club sides had been defeated in that time, but in all cases by fellow La Liga sides. Earlier, the center of Wroclaw was packed with fans from both clubs, with green-and-white clad Betis fans outnumbering their English rivals. Poland's Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said police made 28 arrests after supporters clashed in the city's market square. — AFP
