Maresca clashes with Chelsea on Colwill successor
Enzo Maresca has informed Chelsea of his desire to recruit a new central defender to replace the injured Levi Colwill. However, the club is currently exploring internal solutions. Colwill, an England international, underwent surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is expected to be sidelined for a significant portion of the season. Last season, he played a crucial role for Chelsea, starting in 35 out of 38 Premier League matches.
Maresca emphasized the need for a central defender to fill Colwill's position, stating that the club is aware of his opinion. Colwill's absence is particularly felt in the team's tactical buildup play from the back. Maresca highlighted the importance of having a player like Colwill in the middle, especially in key competitions like the Premier League and Champions League.
Despite Colwill's absence, Chelsea has tested Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah in his position during pre-season matches. Maresca mentioned the potential of France center-back Fofana to step up but emphasized the importance of fitness and adaptability. The club is reportedly considering strengthening their attacking options in the transfer window, with talks ongoing for potential signings.
Statistically, Colwill's performance in terms of progressive passes, passes under high pressure, line breaking passes, and chances created in the Premier League last season appears impressive. However, when analyzed on a per-game basis, other defensive options like Adarabioyo and Acheampong show comparable or slightly better numbers. The data also reveals that players like Fofana and Chalobah offer different strengths compared to Colwill in certain aspects of the game.
While Colwill's statistics are notable, there are intangible qualities such as his loan experience under Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and his leadership within the team that may not be fully captured by data. Despite this, the data suggests that Chelsea has viable internal options to replace Colwill in his absence.