Enzo Maresca revealed the adjustment he made after 15 minutes that significantly improved Chelsea’s performance against Southampton.

The 5-1 scoreline at St. Mary’s barely reflects Chelsea’s dominant performance against Southampton. Despite the convincing away victory, Chelsea set a Premier League record for the highest expected goals tally by an away team. Although Joao Felix impressed in a heavily rotated lineup, he was among those who missed several key chances in front of goal.

Enzo Maresca made a tactical adjustment around 15 minutes into the match, changing Chelsea’s pressing strategy to a man-to-man approach. Initially, the team struggled, particularly during the first 10 to 15 minutes when Southampton appeared the more dangerous side. Maresca acknowledged this issue, explaining that the team had been prepared to press man-to-man, but they had not executed it properly at first. Once the change was made, Chelsea’s performance improved significantly.

After Christopher Nkunku’s goal, Maresca showed little celebration, instead focusing on instructing his players about the pressing tactics. This moment demonstrated his high standards, as Chelsea’s intensity was much sharper afterward, with the opposition unable to create any further chances. With Chelsea now second in the Premier League, the team is increasingly looking like a contender in the title race, though Maresca is likely keen to avoid talk of that just y

et.