Enzo Maresca has revealed Marc Guiu’s application in training was the reason why he left the Chelsea striker in the cold for so long, saying he had to have a stern talk with the teenager.
Guiu started this season on loan with Sunderland, who will be the visitors to Stamford Bridge on Saturday. However, upon being recalled after Liam Delap’s hamstring injury at the end of August, it was not until October that the 19-year-old received any minutes under Maresca.
He has since appeared in three games: as a substitute against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and as a starter versus Ajax as he scored in that Champions League victory.
Having impressed since bucking up his ideas, Guiu is in contention to start against Sunderland, for whom he played three games in August. He would be eligible to return to the Black Cats on loan in January if the Blues saw that as best for his development, with Delap now training again after overcoming his injury.
‘We had a chat with Marc two weeks ago,’ Maresca said at his press conference. ‘I told him that I didn’t like the way he was training and he needs to change. He changed and he got a chance.’
Asked what he did not like about his training, Maresca answered: ‘He was not training well. In all the ways. I don’t know (why). Since we chatted, it’s top, it’s fantastic, it’s working very good.
Enzo Maresca has revealed why he did not give Marc Guiu a chance earlier this season
Chelsea boss said he was not impressed by the youngster’s application in training
‘Marc is a typical No 9. He is physically strong, a box player, born in ’06, he can improve and he can do many things better and we are working with him every day to help him.
‘In terms of Joao Pedro, we know that he can play as a No 9 or he can play as a No 10. Probably when he has another No 9 next to him, he is playing better.’
Delap trained with his Chelsea team-mates for the first time on Thursday.
He will not be available to face Sunderland this weekend, but Maresca did say he should be ready ‘for the next one’, which could either mean Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday or Tottenham in the Premier League next weekend.
‘We don’t have any new injuries,’ Maresca said. ‘Liam took part in the session yesterday with the team for the first time, so he’s not going to be available for tomorrow game, but probably for the next match.’
