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Mourinho Shocks Chelsea: New Manager Enzo Maresca Hailed as a ‘Tactical Master’

Shivansh Rana | 3 min read | 1 day ago | Oct 14, 2025 08:17 pm IST
Mourinho Shocks Chelsea: New Manager Enzo Maresca Hailed as a 'Tactical Master'

So, you think you’ve heard everything from Jose Mourinho? Think again. The ‘Special One’ just dropped a bombshell, and it’s all about Chelsea’s new boss. On October 9, 2025, Mourinho openly praised current Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, calling him a “tactical master” after the team’s latest dominant performance.

Key Takeaways

  • Jose Mourinho stunned fans by calling new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca a “tactical master.”
  • The praise came on October 9, 2025, with Mourinho saying Maresca reminds him of his own prime.
  • This isn’t the first time Mourinho has praised a Chelsea figure, once calling Frank Lampard “the best in the world.”
  • Maresca’s tactical approach includes using players like Malo Gusto in unique, hybrid roles.

Mourinho’s Shocking Endorsement

Yeah, you read that right. Mourinho, a man known for his sharp tongue and psychological games, went out of his way to compliment the new man in his old Stamford Bridge office. He didn’t just stop at “tactical master.” He reportedly went on to say that Maresca’s game management is comparable to elite coaches and even reminded him of his own glory days.

Look, for a manager as legendary as Mourinho to give that kind of endorsement is massive. It’s a huge vote of confidence for Maresca and a signal to the rest of the league that something special might be brewing at Chelsea. It turns heads. Really.

A History of Kings and Castaways

But honestly, this is classic Mourinho. He either builds you up or tears you down. Remember when he told a young Frank Lampard he was “the best in the world” during his first spell at Chelsea? That’s the kind of motivation that can create a legend. It’s the ultimate confidence boost from one of the greatest minds in football.

And then there’s the other side. Just ask Henrikh Mkhitaryan. He recounted a time at Manchester United when Mourinho allegedly called him a “piece of sh*t.” It’s a stark contrast, showing how Mourinho’s approval is a powerful tool, and his disapproval can end a player’s career at a club. This praise for Maresca feels different, more like a genuine acknowledgment of talent.

Maresca’s Method in Action

So what is it about Maresca’s tactics that has Mourinho so impressed? It might be his creative use of players. Take Malo Gusto, for example. Here’s a player with a wild statistic: 155 career appearances without scoring a single senior goal. Most managers might see that as a limitation. But not Maresca.

He’s been deploying Gusto in a hybrid defensive-attacking role, sometimes pushing him up to play like a number 10 to cause problems for the opposition. It’s this kind of outside-the-box thinking that defines a tactical master. It’s not about what a player can’t do, it’s about what you can make them do. What do you think? Is this the start of a new golden era for Chelsea under Maresca?