Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall may have missed our first preseason match due to a minor fitness issue, but he of all players can afford for that to happen. Unlike everybody else in the squad, he is already intimately familiar with Enzo Maresca’s tactical system, having played a key role in it last season at Leicester City. In fact, he was such a fanboy that he became known as somewhat of a teacher’s pet.
Then again, when you win 13 of your first 14 games and lose just three times before the turn of the year, it can be pretty easy to get full buy-in from not just the pets, but the rest of the squad as well.
That’s precisely what Enzo Maresca did at Leicester City last season on their way to winning the Championship, and Dewsbury-Hall is confident that the head coach can replicate that sort of instant success at Chelsea, too.
“I genuinely think in a short space of time we can be pushing for minimum top four – but more than that. He may be unknown for a lot of people, but he is top, top level. He will surprise a lot of people.”
“A couple of the lads have had a laugh and joke [about me being the teacher’s pet], I don’t mind – it’s all fun and games. You are getting lads coming up to me and asking questions. I am happy to let them know what my opinions and experiences are. They will gather their own opinions week by week.”
“We’ve only been doing it for two or three weeks but the combination plays are really quick and tidy. That’s after two weeks. I remember he said to us at Leicester after six months or a year, there might be teething problems at the start but it will improve.
“Within the first week at Leicester I was convinced this was top, top level. I felt a bit stupid, I thought I knew a lot about football but he was teaching me things on a daily basis that I didn’t really know before. He has an aura, he can be strict, or gentle and soft – he has both sides.
“I am getting the same feedback here with the lads. They’ve bought into it here from minute one which is exciting. With a system and philosophy you need everyone to buy in because, if they do, you can really achieve something.”
-Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall; source: BBC
Can I have some of that Kool-Aid please?
