Maresca: Still Such A Long Way To Go
Monday’s trip to Birmingham City – an 8pm GMT kick-off at St. Andrew’s Stadium – follows successive victories over West Bromwich Albion, Plymouth Argyle and Millwall.
Prior to heading across the Midlands, the Italian took stock of the past few weeks and what could lie ahead for his side this week…
Analysing Monday’s opponents
A much-needed win at Cardiff City in midweek sets Birmingham up nicely for the visit of Maresca’s men to the Second City. It’s been far from a smooth transition since Wayne Rooney took charge, but improvements can take time, as the Foxes Manager explained.
He told reporters earlier this week: “I think when you change and a new manager arrives, it is always complicated, especially when the new manager arrives during the season, not at the beginning. I saw that they won so it’s good for them, but I guess that with time it is going to work better and they are going to reach some important results.”
Sticking to the process
The 3-2 victory over Millwall on Wednesday required a trio of second-half goals to secure the three points. While Maresca would love to sit back at half-time with his side comfortably ahead, he explained that necessary adjustments to the plan, in some circumstances, are the key to success at this moment in time.
“We look at the table for sure but there is still so long to go,” the 43-year-old commented. “We score more goals in the last half-an-hour - we don’t decide this. We try to score since the game starts but because of the opponent, because of the solutions, they can surprise us. Sometimes when we see the first XI, we say to the guys that they could be a line of four or five.
“When you are with a team starting just five months ago, it’s very difficult to adjust during the first half. You need half-time to sit, relax and adjust to work better. After one, two or three years together, you can call Harry Winks, Jannik [Vestergaard] and say we need to change.
“In this moment it is completely impossible because you need to call 11 players to the bench and that is not possible.”
Opportunities to shine
There was praise for both Abdul Fatawu and Patson Daka following their performances in midweek, the latter scoring for the second successive game having previously not started a single Championship fixture this term.
Maresca added: “At the end of the day, the fans pay their money for the tickets to see a player like him (Fatawu) – to enjoy the one-vs.-one and these kinds of things, for sure. But Abdul needs a player in behind him so that the ball arrives to him very clean. We need a process in behind. But we are happy when Abdul or Stephy [Mavididi] or any of the other wingers we have can do something special.
“If you are playing, you deserve it. If you are not playing, you need to work and come back. In this moment, Pat (Daka) is scoring goals and working hard after three or four months of waiting and waiting. For sure we are going to trust him and give him more chances no doubt.”