Chelsea’s Maresca Anticipates Reunion with Van Nistelrooy at Manchester United
Chelsea has had a tough time at Old Trafford, with their last league win there being over a decade ago. The Blues lost 2-1 to United in December and suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat in May, leaving them winless in their last 11 league visits to Manchester, which includes six draws and five losses. Maresca acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting the difficulty of playing at United, stating, “Hopefully, it’s a good time to play them. It’s a really tough place to win, and our recent record shows that.”
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is looking forward to facing his former teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy this weekend as Chelsea visits Manchester United, where they have struggled to secure a Premier League win since May 2013. Maresca and Van Nistelrooy played together at Malaga during the 2011-2012 season, marking the final chapter of the Dutch striker's illustrious career.
Van Nistelrooy is currently in interim charge of United while awaiting the arrival of Ruben Amorim, who is set to take over later this month. This weekend’s match will be Van Nistelrooy’s second in charge after guiding United to a 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the League Cup midweek.
“I will give Van Nistelrooy a big hug before the game,” Maresca said in a press conference. He praised his former teammate as a "fantastic guy, humble, and very professional," reminiscing about their time together at Malaga, which he described as a group of "very good human beings."
Chelsea has had a tough time at Old Trafford, with their last league win there being over a decade ago. The Blues lost 2-1 to United in December and suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat in May, leaving them winless in their last 11 league visits to Manchester, which includes six draws and five losses. Maresca acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting the difficulty of playing at United, stating, “Hopefully, it’s a good time to play them. It’s a really tough place to win, and our recent record shows that.”
As Chelsea prepares for the match, they sit fifth in the Premier League with 17 points, six points behind leaders Manchester City. In contrast, United finds themselves in 14th place with just 11 points from nine matches. Chelsea has recorded four wins in their last six games, while United has only managed three victories.
Maresca confirmed that he has a fully fit squad available for selection, except for Jadon Sancho, who is on loan but is unable to play against his parent club due to illness. The Italian manager also praised the performances of Cole Palmer, who has been in excellent form, contributing seven goals and five assists in 11 games across all competitions. However, Maresca emphasized the importance of not placing too much pressure on the young midfielder.
He stated, “If we expect 20 goals and 20 assists from him again, then that’s wrong. We shouldn’t put that pressure on him. He needs to enjoy his football, and when he does that, you can see what he can do.” Maresca highlighted Palmer’s ability to enhance the team’s overall performance, even when he isn’t on the scoresheet, calling him a “very important player” for Chelsea.
As the two sides prepare for this crucial encounter, both managers will be looking for valuable points in the competitive landscape of the Premier League.
