Chelsea midfielder Cesare Casadei has admitted he was “not very happy” with manager Mauricio Pochettino in the second half of last season.
Casadei joined Leicester on a one-year loan in the summer of 2023 and impressed as the Enzo Maresca-coached Foxes initially ran away with the Championship title race. But he was called up to Stamford Bridge early, only for Pochettino to give him sporadic minutes.
“I did very well on loan,” the 21-year-old all sportslooking back at the situation.
“However, in mid-January, Chelsea, who own my contract until 2028, called me home. And with Pochettino it was quite difficult for me. I’ve only played bits and pieces, 11 games but a total of just 71 minutes on the pitch, the last quarter of an hour at most and mostly as a substitute.
“I wasn’t very happy. Everyone would like to play a little bit more.”
Casadei, who was reunited with Maresca in the summer, stayed at Chelsea this season but is still waiting for his chance. The Italian talent has yet to take to the pitch Premier Leaguealthough he played 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup against Barrow and in the Conference League against Gent.
Maresca has not been an automatic ticket into the team, but Casadei is optimistic about working with his compatriot and what the coach is doing for an already resurgent side. Chelsea.
“When I saw that Maresca was coming to Stamford Bridge in the summer I was excited,” he said.
“We already knew each other because he was my manager for the first six months of last season at Leicester City. However, I’m not the only one who has already worked with him: (Kiernan) Dewsbury-Hall also comes from Leicester while (Cole) Palmer and (Romeo) Lavia played for Manchester City when Maresca was (Pep) Guardiola’s technical assistant.
“The coach was very clear from the first day: everyone understood his ideas and how he wanted to play. Being compatriots only helps me from a linguistic point of view, in the sense that I understand immediately. For the rest, I’m part of the staff like everyone else: no privileges.
“I like the way he thinks and sees football. We are working well under his guidance. I think he is a great coach because he is able to get the best out of everyone. He is demanding, but that is how it has to be. We are at Chelsea, we have many expectations”.
