Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall makes surprise Enzo Maresca prediction after perfect Chelsea transfer

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall believes Enzo Maresca will “definitely” surprise a lot of people at Chelsea.

The 44-year-old was appointed Blues head coach at the start of last month on a long-term contract and took charge of his first match on Wednesday. Chelsea drew 2-2 with Wrexham but despite the result, there were some encouraging signs from the way the Blues played.

Maresca has a complex way of playing football and it is one that will take some time to be fully implemented within this young Chelsea squad. Dewsbury-Hall, though, knows Maresca better than anyone at the club having worked with him in Leicester City’s Championship-winning 2023/24 season.

The 25-year-old midfielder switched the King Power Stadium for Stamford Bridge at the start of the month, in a deal believed to be around £30million. Dewsbury-Hall, who had spent 17 years at Leicester beforehand, was heavily influenced to move to west London by Maresca’s appointment.

It is perhaps no shock then that Dewsbury-Hall is expecting big things from the Italian at Chelsea. In fact, he believes Maresca will surprise a lot of people once the players take his ideology on board.

When asked if Maresca will surprise people, the new Chelsea midfielder said: “Definitely. 100 per cent. Look, I don’t want to be banging on saying we’re going to do this or that.

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“He is unknown for a lot of people but I can go off working with him and say my opinions and I think he is top, top level. Hopefully we can back that up because that would be the best thing for me and the club. I do think he will surprise a lot of people in the way we play and the way we do things, so we will see.”

It was a very quick reunion with Maresca. Just under one month after Chelsea confirmed the Italian’s appointment, the club completed the signing of Dewsbury-Hall.

Working together in the Championship saw Dewsbury-Hall record his best individual season to date. In 44 league games last term, the Foxes academy graduate had 26 direct goal contributions, scoring 12 times and assisting on 14 occasions.

When Maresca was appointed Chelsea boss, did it ever cross Dewsbury-Hall’s mind that he could be moving to SW6 as well? “No, I don’t think as a player you can think that,” Dewsbury-Hall told football.london.

“I always knew I had a good relationship with him because I bought into the way he wanted to play and he appreciated that I did that. When he left, we were on fantastic terms, I wished him the best of luck and he did the same for me. I never in my head thought, ‘he’s going to take me when he goes to a big club’. I don’t think I can be that arrogant.

“But when it came about, I was very happy, of course, because it meant I could work under him again and continue to evolve. It was perfect for me.”