‘I see clearly’ – Enzo Maresca makes Roberto De Zerbi claim ahead of Brighton showdown

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca insists he has scouted new Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

   The Blues prepare to host Hurzeler’s unbeaten Brighton and a win would make it a third straight league win for Chelsea after beating Bournemouth and West Ham, and four in all competitions.

   Hurzeler, 31, the youngest full-time manager in Premier League history, earned the admiration of the Chelsea boss ahead of the meeting.

   “He is doing a great job, I saw some of his games last year in another team in Germany (St. Pauli) and I can clearly see the idea,” said Maresca.

   “When you join a club where the previous coach played more or less the same it helps a lot, my great friend Roberto De Zerbi was there so he continues that style and that helps a lot.”

   Maresca also paid tribute to former Brighton ace Marco Cucurella, who has started all five of Chelsea’s league games this season, as he looks worthy of a reported £62million move from the Blues to the Seagulls in 2022.

   The versatile Spaniard, who helped his national team to European Championship glory this summer, featured under Maresco in both defense and attack, complimenting his professionalism.

   “Marc is very important, he has something that is sometimes hard to find in players,” he added.

   “Marc is good and makes the players around him better because he is a man who speaks, demands and when you have five or six players like Marc in the team, that is something important and I am very happy with him.”

   The Blues boss made 11 changes in Tuesday’s 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Barrow, with Christopher Nkunku scoring his first hat-trick for the club.

   However, Maresca has preferred the in-form Nicolas Jackson as the starting striker in his first five league games.    Jackson was at the heart of the Blues’ 3-0 triumph against West Ham last week as the striker scored twice and assisted Cole Palmer for the third.

   The Italian coach believes an honest conversation with second-choice Nkunku about his playing time is vital to keeping the team’s morale high.

   Maresca told reporters on Friday: “I’ll be honest, I’m honest with (Nkunku) and I’m honest with everyone. I’ve said many times since day one that we can’t play with seven or eight strikers because there’s no balance in defence.

   “At the moment Nico (Jackson) last played in the Premier League and scored two goals, Christopher played the other day and scored three, that’s good. It’s important that they compete against each other.”