The five Chelsea players who will be happy Mauricio Pochettino has left and Enzo Maresca has come in

As with the arrival of a new manager, players who were previously sidelined always get a new chance to force their way back into the team. Some take it, others don’t, but the fresh start is always there. At a club like Chelsea, a new manager is always around the corner, so some players sit tight and count the days until a new boss comes in. Under the Blueco owners, they’ve already had six managers in their first two years.

Argentinian Pochettino has exited, having been the longest-serving manager of the new owners, and in has come Enzo Maresca. So ahead of what should be a new beginning, here are five players who could force their way back into the team.

Ben Chilwell

The English defender suffered an injury-ravaged campaign, and by the time he returned, Marc Cucurella had transformed Chelsea’s season, playing as an inverted left-back, which helped the team to five wins in their last five games. The arrival of Maresca now means Chilwell will get a new chance to fight for his spot.

Enzo Fernandez

Fernandez and Pochettino had a really good relationship, but there is no hiding from the fact that the World Cup winner struggled to find his best form under his fellow countryman. Sources have said there was a little frustration within Pochettino’s coaching team because they expected more from Fernandez. In the end, injury forced him out, and Chelsea played their best football in his absence.

Raheem Sterling

By the time the season ended, Raheem Sterling, despite being the club’s highest earner, was no longer a starter in Pochettino’s first eleven. The England star lost his position to Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk. He still has experience and can play in this team, so he’ll hope the new manager means a new opportunity for him.

Robert Sanchez

Sanchez is another who had big injuries that affected his form, and by the time he was ready to go again, Đorđe Petrović was the undisputed number one for Pochettino. Maresca is already said to favour Sanchez, so he’ll be looking forward to pre-season to get his career going.

Malang Sarr

Sarr was not even given a chance to train with the first team and looked desperately isolated every time he was seen at Cobham. He’ll likely be sold, but given he was playing in the team under Thomas Tuchel and Pochettino appeared to suggest he did not even know about him in one of his press conferences, Sarr will be one of those who will just be happy the Argentinian is no longer at the club.