Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has lavished praise on head coach Enzo Maresca, declaring him “light-years ahead” of other managers he has worked with in his young career.
Speaking after Chelsea’s 2-1 Europa Conference League victory over FC Copenhagen on Thursday, the 21-year-old center-back credited Maresca for significantly improving his understanding of the game.
“I think Maresca, with the way he thinks about football, is light-years ahead of everyone else,” Colwill told BBC Sport. “Of course, I’ve been blessed with lots of different coaches who have been fantastic. But he pushes me to understand football in a different way. That’s why I’m very blessed to play under him and learn as much as possible.”
Maresca, who joined Chelsea last summer after guiding Leicester City to promotion from the Championship, has impressed with his tactical intelligence and structured approach.
Under his leadership, Chelsea have shown greater consistency, particularly in possession-based football, which aligns with the principles Maresca learned during his time as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Colwill, who emerged as one of Chelsea’s most promising defenders last season after a successful loan spell at Brighton, has been a key figure in Maresca’s squad when fit.
His ability to play both as a center-back and a left-back has made him a valuable asset in Chelsea’s system.
With the Blues currently sitting fifth in the Premier League and pushing for a return to the Champions League, they will be looking to build on their European success when they face Leicester City in the FA Cup on Sunday, March 9.
