HONEST ENZ WILL JUSTIFY THE MEANS

Dewsbury-Hall defends his straight-talking boss

- NEIL MCLEMAN

BEFORE his first European tie with Chelsea, Enzo Maresca insisted he has been “honest” rather than “brutal” during his brief reign at the club.

And his former Leicester midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (right) claimed players prefer a straight talker.

The Italian head coach is certainly that. During his press conference before tonight’s Europa Conference League qualifier against Servette, Maresca dodged no questions about the bombing out of big-name players like Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell or how he did not “care” about selling players who had long contracts. He also insisted his Blues squad was not a “mess”.

Maresca is saying nothing that Chelsea’s embattled American owners do not want to hear.

But after winning the Championship with the Foxes last season, Pep Guardiola’s former assistant is quickly making his own name in the top flight. His football may not be direct, but his talking is.