Enzo Maresca praised for getting “huge game” out of player, despite using him wrong for months

Chelsea’s big win over PSG in the Club World Cup final on Sunday was so glorious that everyone is still basking in it.

Success has many fathers, as they say, and one by one they’re all getting their flowers. Enzo Maresca got a lot of praise from his boss Todd Boehly today, and now on the London is Blue podcast a player is getting picked out for similar treatment.

Big game Gusto praised by podcasters

Malo Gusto streaks down the flank. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

“Huge game from Malo Gusto,” presenter Dan Dormer said.

“The way that he was able to bomb forward, press them into very disadvantageous positions, where then you created opportunities for Cole Palmer, for other players to come in and get the space needed [was essential].

“Malo Gusto is not an inverting full back. We’ve known that [for some time]. And there were moments this past season that Gusto was rightfully criticised. But the way that Enzo Maresca has adjusted the lineup, tweaked the formation a little bit, changed some of the tactics has really put Chelsea in a position to leverage the strength from way more players.”

You can see their discussion in the clip embedded here:

💪 @nickverlaney & Dan on Malo Gusto's immense display in the CWC final, and how a move away from inverted FB into his preferred role is seeing him thrive!

🎧👉 https://t.co/ZMaZ5TfkkDpic.twitter.com/Yx1JDprHmh

— London Is Blue Podcast ⭐️⭐️ (@LondonBluePod) July 15, 2025

Maresca and Gusto need more than one good day to erase bad memories

While there’s no doubting that Gusto was excellent, and that Maresca’s tactical switch helped make that happen, we don’t want to go overboard with the praise. One good performance doesn’t erase plenty of bad ones from the Frenchman this season, and using him in a role that suits him doesn’t erase dozens of times he was used in a role which didn’t suit him by Maresca.

Let’s hope this lightbulb moment means we get to see lots more of both next year. There’s always been a player in there, he just needs to be used in the right way.