Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had good reason to thank Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford this weekend.
Of course, Enzo Maresca and Erik ten Hag are no longer going to cross paths following Manchester United’s decision to sack the Dutchman.
Had they, perhaps Maresca would have cheekily thanked Ten Hag for Jadon Sancho, who has made a bright start to life at Chelsea following his arrival from United.
In five Premier League games, the winger has registered three assists. However, in a weird way, Maresca and Chelsea also have to thank Ten Hag for Cole Palmer.
Erik ten Hag made Cole Palmer to Chelsea deal possible
Chelsea signed Palmer from United’s rivals Manchester City last summer but not before the Red Devils brought in Mason Mount.
Ten Hag really pushed for Mount’s arrival and got him in the end. It left Chelsea a bit light in the attacking midfield area. So what did the club go and do? They bought Palmer and the rest is history.
The 22-year-old is now Maresca’s most important player, already coming up with 12 goal contributions in the Premier League this season.
| Cole Palmer’s 2024/25 Premier League statistics | Total |
| Appearances | 9 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 5 |
Had Chelsea given Mount the contract he wanted and built around him, who knows where Palmer would be? Nedum Onuoha recently compared Palmer to Kevin De Bruyne, showing just how much of a gem Maresca has.
Enzo Maresca can thank Erik ten Hag for Jadon Sancho
Again, Maresca can also shake Ten Hag’s hand for allowing United to hand Sancho over to Chelsea.
Following a public fall out between the two, Ten Hag was happy for Sancho to leave Old Trafford at the end of the last transfer window.
He is a player Maresca is glad to have. “He is going to help us,” Maresca said when praising Sancho earlier this month.
Some United fans will be happy to see him go after their side’s poor start to the season, but Chelsea supporters will definitely not be.
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