Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has sold a player who has “completely transformed” since leaving Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea face Sunderland after defeating Ajax
Despite being without many key players, the Blues have returned to excellent form with four consecutive wins in all competitions, and will face tomorrow’s match against Sunderland with new confidence.
Maresca’s side were given a rude wake-up call this time last month when they lost 3-1 at home to Brighton, but the misery at Stamford Bridge appears to have lit a fire under Chelsea’s players.
Despite missing summer signing Liam Delap and star forward Cole Palmer through injury, Chelsea have coped well without them, scoring 10 goals in their last three games.
In the last Champions League, they achieved an impressive victory over Ajax with goals from Marc Giu, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes, Estebao and Tyrik George. Maresca’s side have also done a solid job defensively, considering the absence of Benoît Badiashile and Levi Colwill.
Newly promoted Sunderland have started the season well and will face another tough test this weekend with a trip to London, but given Chelsea’s recent results, the Black Cats could be in for a tough afternoon.
That said, Maresca is by no means underestimating them.
“I spent one season in the Championship with Leicester and I love the Championship, so even if I play in the Premier League or the Champions League, I always watch the Championship. So I’ve been watching Sunderland since last season when they had a new manager,” Maresca told reporters at a pre-match press conference.
“They have done very well not only this season but also from last season. They play good football, they are very strong and physical, so I really like the way they are doing it.”
Chelsea’s squad, which won both the Conference League and the Club World Cup earlier this year, is coming together and a more complete squad could make the West Londoners firm favorites for at least a top-four finish.
Marc Cucurella has always been a key cog in the team’s system at left-back, leaving little room for ex-Chelsea left-back Diego Moreira to join Strasbourg permanently in 2024.
Diego Moreira ‘transformed’ after leaving Chelsea
Of course, given Chelsea’s links with our sister club, there is always a chance that Bruko could re-sign the Belgian.
However, Liam Roseniol appears to have done a great job with Moreira since leaving Chelsea, and the tactician will be reluctant to lose the versatile defender who is now one of the ‘best’ full-backs in Ligue 1.
“He’s an extraordinary coach and player developer, and you saw that in former Chelsea player Diego Moreira, who really transformed under Rosenior,” broadcaster Andy Brassell told TalkSPORT.
“He was a player who came to Lyon on loan from Chelsea and was completely unprepared for top-level football.
“Then a year later he goes to Strasbourg and suddenly, by changing positions, he is one of the best wing-backs in the league. He is not only very good with the ball, but also very good without the ball. His defensive awareness now is amazing.”
“In terms of scoring and creating, his runs, his awareness when Strasbourg doesn’t have the ball, all those parts of his game, Rosenior has completely changed him. It’s amazing.”
Strasbourg have made an excellent start to 2025/2026 and have become surprise contenders for the French title, coming close to defeating European champions PSG in an impressive 3-3 draw at the Parc des Princes last week.
At one point they were leading by two points, and Moreira was at the center of it all, scoring and assisting the capital.
His performances have been exceptional and judging by his own admissions last year, Moreira may not want to return to Chelsea anytime soon.
“I think I’m here to stay. Since I’ve been here, I’m relieved. I’ve rediscovered the joy of playing football, of having fun. Everything is great: the coach, the club, the infrastructure, the quality of life, the city,” the South American told La Dernière Heure.
“Certainly the level of academy football is not comparable to professional football. There is a feeling that it is stagnant, that you are not learning anything. Yes, we are still learning something every day, but back then you needed to gain experience. That is not what I was looking for.”
