Chelsea wonderkid’s dad says Enzo Maresca was the defining reason for his move

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Enzo Maresca’s impact at Chelsea has been noticed both inside and outside the club, and he continues to earn praise for the work he’s done since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea executives have made it clear they are pleased with his performance, especially as he is the first manager under Todd Boehly’s ownership to start a second season in charge.

Maresca guided Chelsea to two trophies – the Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League – using the depth of his squad to manage the demands of multiple competitions.

In Europe, several young players were given opportunities to debut. Shumaira Mheuka, Kiano Dyer, and Reggie Walsh all saw playing time as senior players were rested throughout their campaign.

Among this season’s breakout young players is Jesse Derry. The former Crystal Palace academy player has scored eight goals in his first 14 games for Chelsea.

Shaun Derry, the youngster’s father, has now revealed that Maresca played a significant role in their decision to choose Chelsea as the ideal club for his son’s development.

“He’s been outstanding, hasn’t he. For me, I think he’s been fantastic. I love the fact that he is the Chelsea manager, and players earn the right to have opportunities, but he’s open for those opportunities,” he told Alex Goldberg.

Derry added: “You go back to the decision of ‘Why Chelsea?’ A real big tick box for us all, more importantly for Jesse, last year nine academy graduates were given the opportunity to play for Chelsea.”

“Obviously they had the Europa Conference competition. But at the same time, that’s propelled those young boys to potentially having a career in the first team.”

Derry also impressing on international stage

His form hasn’t gone unnoticed by England either. Derry has become a regular for the U19s, featuring alongside Shumaira Mheuka.

During the latest international break, he made headlines with a hat-trick, standing out in a side full of young talent.

It is a squad with plenty of standout names, but Derry’s performances have arguably put him ahead of the pack. Max Dowman, another highly rated prospect, has seen his profile rise too – but it is Derry who seems closest to breaking through to the senior squad.