Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s accomplished Italian coach, has earned the prestigious Premier League Manager of the Month award for November. This recognition follows a stellar performance where his team remained unbeaten throughout the league campaign that month. Chelsea secured three crucial wins and a draw in their four league matches.
A public vote, involving passionate football supporters, played a significant role in determining the outcome. Maresca’s impressive leadership saw his side achieve three clean sheets. Remarkably, his team also conceded only one goal across all Premier League fixtures in November.
Chelsea’s Dominant November Campaign
Chelsea commenced November with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Tottenham, courtesy of Joao Pedro’s composed finish. They subsequently secured dominant wins: a 3-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 2-0 defeat of Burnley. The month concluded with a gritty 1-1 draw against league leaders Arsenal. Notably, Chelsea bravely played most of the second half with ten men in that challenging encounter.
In total, Chelsea accumulated an impressive ten points. They conceded just one goal during the entire month. This outstanding record positioned them as the Premier League side with both the strongest defensive performance and the highest points return for November.
Maresca triumphed over formidable competition for the coveted award. Other esteemed nominees included Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, Pep Guardiola, Fabian Hurzeler, and Marco Silva.
Key Player Updates Ahead of Everton Clash
As attention now shifts, Chelsea is set to face Everton in a crucial league clash this Saturday. Maresca delivered positive news regarding key player availability. Both Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana are expected to be available for selection. Chelsea currently occupies fifth position in the league table, sitting one point ahead of their upcoming opponents, Everton.
Cole Palmer, who did not travel for the midweek Champions League fixture in Italy, has fortunately rejoined team training. During his pre-match press conference, Maresca provided a reassuring update. He stated, “Cole is okay. He is better and currently available. We have one more session this afternoon. Yesterday, he finished training with us with mixed feelings, but overall he is okay.”
Similarly, Wesley Fofana was substituted during the midweek game after sustaining an eye injury following a slide tackle. Encouragingly, Fofana has now been cleared to play. Maresca confirmed, “He is available, he is fine. He took part in the session yesterday and is completely fine.”
However, Chelsea will still contend with some notable absences. Moises Caicedo completes the final match of his domestic suspension. Furthermore, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, and Dario Essugo remain unavailable. Liam Delap has also joined this list, having suffered a shoulder injury against Bournemouth.
The precise duration of Delap’s absence remains uncertain. Maresca commented on the situation, “We don’t know yet. It could be two, three, or four weeks. We don’t know exactly how many days he will need.”
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