Levi Colwill has launched an avid defense of Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca in the midst of harsh criticism of his playing style, saying that outsiders do not realize how elite he is.
There were complaints about Maresca's patient philosophy, including some anger when Enzo Fernandez played one return pass during the Premier League win on Sunday at Leicester.
Chelsea will confirm their place in the quarterfinals of the Conference League on Thursday, when Copenhagen Stamford Bridge visits with a shortage of 2-1 of the first stage.
Colwill spoke with the media prior to that collision and immediately defended Maresca as he said: “The way he teaches us every day has been great. I really enjoy playing among him and I know that everyone in the dressing room does that too. After a while you will see that we get better and better because of him. I love the way he plays football, I love the ideas he has. I love it.
'The ideas that he brings in the training to help us break down teams are completely up to him. As a manager and a person he is top, he pushes us every day. He is sometimes serious, but he can also be a joker. He has a great balance and you don't want to go on the wrong side of him. He is a top professional. '
With Thomas Tuchel who mentioned his first English team this week, Colwill added that he spoke with the former Chelsea boss, while he said: 'I trained with him a few times and went with him at the time, so I know he is a top manager, a top man and I had a chat with him.
Hopefully I can be called up for this camp that plays for England. It is a dream come true for everyone and to keep playing for them feels just as good as the first time. Hopefully I can be called up on Friday and we will go from there. He (Tuchel) is a truly demanding manager. All are great. They push their team and they want to get the best out of them and when he won the Champions League here, you see it, the high energy. He is a great character to be in the neighborhood. '
Maresca added to his own press conference that he will not only root for Chelsea to win in the Conference League, but for Tottenham to claim a victory in their Europa League Last-16 second stage with AZ Alkmaar. English clubs that are doing well in Europe will help the Premier League confirm that a fifth placed finish would be enough to reach the Champions League.
There is also the added bonus that if both Chelsea and Tottenham progress in their competitions, UEFA has confirmed that the quarterfinals of Blues would see them play their first leg and the second stage at home.
“It's an English team,” said Maresca when he was asked about Spurs. “I hope they go through that game. You never know, sometimes it's better to play at home and sometimes. We must be focused on and then we will see. '
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