Oliver Glasner’s assessment of Ben Chilwell has just proved he could have actually been a good fit for Enzo Maresca at Chelsea

Add as preferred source on Google

Following his arrival at Chelsea, Enzo Maresca just did not take to Ben Chilwell.

Enzo Maresca claimed that he could not find a position for Ben Chilwell in the team and ended up handing him just one appearance before his loan move to Crystal Palace.

The defender made his Palace debut against Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup on Monday, and Oliver Glasner has had some interesting things to say about him since then.

While Maresca does not appear to be his biggest fan, Palace supporters seem to appreciate Chilwell.

• READ MORE: Ben Chilwell uploads first social media post since leaving Chelsea for Crystal Palace, Jude Bellingham and Trevoh Chalobah respond

Oliver Glasner highlights Ben Chilwell’s strengths

Glasner felt that Chilwell was a bit rusty and not at his best defensively against Doncaster.

It is understandable, given how little the left-back has played this season. At Chelsea, he was only able to record 45 minutes of action.

However, Glasner was impressed with Chilwell’s comfortability in possession and his passing.

He told South London News after the game: “He needs this game time, he’s training with us for just one week. Tyrick [Mitchell] did well, there was no reason but we wanted to give Ben some minutes and solutions.

“He was a little bit too passive in defending so they could pass in behind. This is what we are doing differently but you could see he is comfortable in possession, in passing. A little more attacking than Tyrick, but this is what we were looking for, so a positive debut.”

All in all, with Renato Veiga having also left Stamford Bridge on loan, Chelsea sending Chilwell to Palace was arguably a mistake.

Ben Chilwell could have been a good fit for Enzo Maresca

If Glasner’s assessment of Chilwell is anything to go by, then it is possible that the left-back could have been a success under Maresca.

Chelsea are a side who dominate possession and look to recycle it, something that Chilwell is evidently capable of doing.

The 28-year-old is more of an attacking, overlapping full-back than an inverted full-back. But being comfortable in possession, he surely could have adapted to the role.

Chelsea supporters will never know following Maresca’s decision to snub Chilwell, whom you would now expect to be sold in the summer.

Chelsea have been linked with Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth and a few other left-backs. But perhaps Maresca has missed a trick by not giving Chilwell a real opportunity. Chelsea’s loss could now prove to be Palace’s gain.