Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear that goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen must stick to the short-passing game plan or face being taken off. The Italian coach revealed his strict instruction after Jorgensen faced criticism from fans during Tuesday’s 4-0 Premier League win over Southampton.
Jorgensen attracted groans and jeers from the Stamford Bridge crowd when he held onto the ball and attempted intricate passes rather than clearing his lines. Some supporters felt the risk was unnecessary, but Maresca defended his player’s actions as disciplined adherence to tactics.
Maresca explained after the final whistle saying:
My message to Filip was: ‘If you play long ball, I will change you.
So, he was just doing what I said to him.
The manager acknowledged the pressure goalkeepers face under this system, noting it is difficult for Jorgensen, former keeper Robert Sánchez, and indeed any custodian tasked with such responsibilities.
Softfootball gathered that Maresca views this approach as non-negotiable. He emphasized that his keepers are simply following the plan, even if it draws temporary ire from the stands. For now, Jorgensen knows exactly where he stands: play short, or make way for someone who will.
