November 12th 2024.
According to former England manager Glenn Hoddle, the atmosphere on Chelsea's bench was not all sunshine and rainbows during their game against Arsenal on Sunday. Hoddle noticed some tension and discontent among the substitutes as their team settled for a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
It was Enzo Maresca's side who had to settle for a point, as Pedro Neto's equaliser cancelled out Gabriel Martinelli's opening goal for Arsenal. However, the team's performance was not the only issue at hand. Noni Madueke, who was substituted in the 68th minute, missed out on the celebrations for Neto's goal as he headed straight down the tunnel after being replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk.
Since taking over as manager from Mauricio Pochettino in the summer, Maresca has had to navigate a tricky balancing act in keeping his squad happy. Some players, like Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku, have barely featured in the Premier League this season. Hoddle, who was sitting behind Chelsea's dugout during the game, noticed that some members of Maresca's squad were upset at being overlooked.
"I thought Pochettino was doing a great job towards the end of last season, from Christmas onwards," Hoddle shared with Premier League Productions. "He's picked up a really good squad now, and he's got depth in every position. I agree with Frank Lampard's earlier comments, the Conference League and League Cup give the second team a chance to play in front of packed stadiums, which helps with the harmony in the club."
Hoddle also observed the dynamics on the substitutes' bench, where all players were eager to get on the pitch. "It's not all hunky dory," he noted. "I could see that some players were upset about not getting on, and some who were taken off were not happy. Maresca has done a great job, but there's still a long way to go."
The former England manager believes that the team's participation in the Conference League and League Cup have helped Maresca keep his players content. However, he warns that if they were to get knocked out of these tournaments, the manager may face more challenges in keeping his squad happy.
Hoddle also mentioned Noni Madueke's reaction after being substituted, which was a topic of discussion after the game. When asked about it, Maresca stated, "When you change a player, they are never happy." He went on to explain that it was a tactical decision and not a reflection of Madueke's performance.
In the end, Hoddle believes that Chelsea are not far off from being serious contenders in the league. "They have a great squad and a good depth in each position," he said. "In a year's time, it will be interesting to see where they stand. But for now, the harmony among the players is crucial, and their participation in the other cup competitions is helping with that."
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