Enzo Maresca hints at copying one of Mauricio Pochettino’s key Chelsea decisions involving Cole Palmer and £30m man

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Chelsea’s standout player from last season has had little trouble recreating his brilliance for the Blues again during this campaign.

Cole Palmer sits on a combined 19 goals and assists in 20 Premier League games, an extraordinary figure that is only topped by Mohamed Salah this season.

Micah Richards sees Palmer as the best young player in the league, and there are even arguments to be had over whether he is the most influential.

• READ MORE: Cole Palmer leads the entire Premier League in one attacking statistic, second-place Tottenham star is way behind

Enzo Maresca hints he could copy Mauricio Pochettino by starting Cole Palmer on the right

Enzo Maresca has got the best out of the England international this season by tweaking his position slightly and featuring him predominantly in the middle, allowing him to orchestrate proceedings more.

Prior to this, the former Manchester City man had been playing off the right under Mauricio Pochettino, where he burst onto the scene as a serious Premier League talent.

This allowed the right-back, usually Malo Gusto, to overlap and create opportunities via crossing, something Chelsea have struggled to convert from this season.

Maresca has hinted in his pre-match press conference that he could be about to recreate this idea, as he looks for new ways to get more from his best attacker.

He said: “Could be [used as a right winger]. You mentioned with Cole playing wide, the full-back overlaps and Cole comes inside the pitch and in the end it is the same position. It’s just a starting position and the ball moves and Cole changes position.

“He played against City on the right and with Malo Gusto overlapping, he finished in the same position.”

Malo Gusto struggling in new position at Chelsea

Such has been the way in Maresca’s system, Gusto has not been utilised as the flying full-back where he showed so much promise last campaign.

Instead, the Frenchman has been frequently coming inside and assisting in the midfield areas, where it is fair to say he has not looked at his best.

Gusto received a 4/10 in our player ratings for the last Premier League game, and would certainly benefit from being able to overlap Palmer again, who has the ability to create magic when cutting in.