This pass, though. I just can’t get enough.

Read Jacob Steinberg on the quietly impressive Enzo Maresca

This is a process and not the story of one man reviving a sinking ship. The bigger point is Maresca has fitted into Chelsea’s structure. He has collaborated with the sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and judging him solely on results is reductive. The more pertinent question is whether Maresca is improving his players, finding common ground with the recruitment team and working productively across a set-up implemented by Stewart and Winstanley. So far the answer is yes.

“I don’t know enough about football to throw around words like ‘tactical discipline’ and whatnot but watchingCole Palmer now you get the sense that he would’ve never flourished as much under Pep, no?” says Phil Podolsky. “It’s not that Pep is Tony Pulis exactly but you know what I mean, right? Which reminds me what you once wrote about RvN’s move to Madrid – that it was a rare transfer that was beneficial for all the three parties involved. Maybe Palmer to Chelsea was like that too? Except I suspect that City wouldn’t mind having him in the squad now.”

I agree. Palmer is best with a blank canvas, and Pep doesn’t really do those. That said, Palmer could still have played from the right for City and scored 20+ goals a season.

Full time: Tottenham 4-1 Aston Villa

Spurs, who were 1-0 down at half-time, blew Aston Villa in an electric second half. John Brewin has all the details.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will manage United for three more games, all at Old Trafford, while Ruben Amorim serves his notice at Sporting Lisbon.

Read Jonathan Wilson on Ruben Amorim

In Amorim, United finally have one of the thrusting pups of European management, somebody who drew interest from both Liverpool and Manchester City. Not only that, but there is an obvious similarity to [Sir Alex] Ferguson in that in a league that is essentially a duopoly, he took a third force to the title.

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Preamble