Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has sent a stern message to goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, threatening to substitute him if he strays from the team’s tactical plan by playing long balls. This warning came after Chelsea’s dominant 4-0 victory over Southampton on Tuesday night.
Maresca’s time at Chelsea has seen several challenges in the goalkeeping department. Initially, he backed Robert Sanchez despite a series of errors. However, following a poor performance against Manchester City in January, Sanchez was replaced by 22-year-old Danish goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. Jorgensen, too, has had his struggles, including conceding a late goal in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa last weekend.
During the Southampton match, Jorgensen’s distribution from the back caused some concern among the Stamford Bridge crowd. Maresca defended his goalkeeper, saying, “My message to Filip was, ‘If you play long ball, I will change you.’ So he was just doing what I said to him.” Despite the warning, Jorgensen attempted eight passes longer than 30 yards, completing just half of them. In contrast, he successfully completed 28 shorter passes at a 100% success rate.
Southampton’s manager, Ivan Juric, had hoped to exploit any potential weaknesses in Chelsea’s play by pressing high and aggressively, but his side failed to capitalize, unable to break through Chelsea’s defense.
Maresca acknowledged the difficulties his goalkeepers face under his tactical system but stressed the importance of sticking to the plan. He explained, “It’s difficult for Filip, it’s difficult for Robert when he was playing, I think it’s difficult for all the keepers. But they should just follow the plan.”
This incident underscores Maresca’s commitment to a possession-based style of play, even if it comes with risks in the defensive third. His readiness to make tough decisions highlights his focus on discipline and tactical adherence within the squad.
In the broader context of Chelsea’s season, Maresca’s approach reflects his determination to build a cohesive team capable of executing his strategic vision as they navigate the challenges of both domestic and European competitions.
