John Obi Mikel’s comments reflect growing frustration with Chelsea’s current tactical approach under Enzo Maresca, especially after their heavy defeat to Brighton. Mikel’s suggestion that Maresca should take a leaf out of Pep Guardiola’s book—becoming more flexible in tactics—highlights a key issue: Chelsea’s predictability. In the Premier League, clubs can analyze and quickly adapt to a team’s style of play, which is what seems to have happened with Chelsea. As Mikel points out, Guardiola’s ability to adjust his strategy, such as opting for a more direct approach against Newcastle, has kept Manchester City unpredictable and competitive.
Mikel’s criticism also touches on a larger theme in modern football, where adaptability is crucial for success. It will be interesting to see how Maresca reacts to this feedback and whether he makes the necessary adjustments to give Chelsea a new tactical edge moving forward.
