Paul Winstanley shares whether Chelsea are surprised by Enzo Maresca’s impact

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Chelsea will be happy with how Enzo Maresca and his side have started this Premier League season.

Sitting fourth in the table, Chelsea are exactly where they want to be: in the Champions League places.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	7	6	0	1	13	2	11	18
2	Man CityManchester City	7	5	2	0	17	8	9	17
3	ArsenalArsenal	7	5	2	0	15	6	9	17
4	ChelseaChelsea	7	4	2	1	16	8	8	14
5	Aston VillaAston Villa	7	4	2	1	12	9	3	14
6	BrightonBrighton	7	3	3	1	13	10	3	12

Some will be surprised that the Blues are doing this well, with Enzo Maresca still being quite a novice. His only other real experience as a manager has come at Leicester City and Parma, with the 44-year-old having very short stints at both clubs.

Chelsea are delighted with Maresca, however, according to journalist Matt Law.

• READ MORE: Enzo Maresca should start £30m Chelsea man for first time in Premier League vs Liverpool on Sunday

Paul Winstanley on Enzo Maresca

While some may be surprised with what Maresca has managed to do with this Chelsea team in such a short space of time, Paul Winstanley and others at Stamford Bridge are not.

Speaking about the Italian in an interview with The Telegraph, the Chelsea co-sporting director said: “He’s got the personality to manage this club and coach this team, and he’s got a strong belief in the playing style, as we have.

“And that’s translating to the pitch, it’s translating to the players. The players have got a belief in that. So, none of us are surprised that he’s grasped it quite quickly, but it’s early days and we’ve got to keep that momentum going.”

Maresca is in for a real test when his side travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool. The Chelsea manager will be without a couple of his key players because of suspension.

It could see Renato Veiga start, for example, with Marc Cucurella unavailable after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season just before the international break.

Early days for Enzo Maresca

It has only been seven games. Chelsea cannot get too carried away with the brilliant start Maresca and his side have made to the season.

Many will not judge him until the end of the campaign when they can see where the Blues have finished.

However, while it is early days, the signs are promising. Not only are Chelsea winning games under Maresca, but they are also attacking very well.

Maresca’s men are the second-highest goalscorers in the Premier League, with the likes of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke firing right now.

Madueke scored in Chelsea’s last match, a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, and Tony Cascarino now thinks Madueke’s future may be up front.