The "Maresca Project" is officially ahead of schedule. On Friday, December 12, the Premier League confirmed that Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has won the Manager of the Month award for November, beating out heavyweights like Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Unai Emery.
Under Maresca’s guidance, Chelsea enjoyed a flawless, unbeaten run in the league throughout November, collecting 10 points from a possible 12 and conceding just a single goal.
The Unbeaten Run: November Results
Maresca’s side displayed a perfect blend of clinical attacking and defensive discipline.
The Blues dominated their fixtures, showing they can win both high-stakes derbies and "must-win" games against lower-table opposition:
Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea: A tactical masterclass away from home, secured by a João Pedro strike.
Chelsea 3-0 Wolves: A dominant performance at the Bridge with goals from Malo Gusto, João Pedro, and Pedro Neto.
Burnley 0-2 Chelsea: A professional away performance featuring a stunning strike from Pedro Neto.
Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal: The performance of the month. Despite being reduced to 10 men for over half the match, Maresca’s side held the league leaders to a draw, even taking the lead before a late Arsenal equalizer.
The Stats That Secured the Silverware
Maresca didn't just win; he dominated the metrics. Chelsea’s November was statistically the best in the division:
Joint-Most Points: 10 points (tied with Aston Villa).
Best Defense: Only 1 goal conceded in four matches.
Clean Sheets: 3 clean sheets in 4 games.
Historical Milestone: Maresca becomes the sixth Chelsea manager to win this award multiple times, joining legends like Mourinho, Ancelotti, and Conte.
"Doing the Right Things"
Speaking at Cobham after receiving the trophy, Maresca was quick to credit his players and staff while acknowledging the club's recent dip in form in early December.
"This award is because you do the right things in terms of performance and results. For us, November was fantastic. Even if December hasn't started the way we wanted, this shows the level we are capable of reaching."
The award lands back on Maresca's desk for the first time since September 2024, signaling that the "identity" he promised at his unveiling is now firmly etched into this young Chelsea squad. With Igor Thiago (Brentford) taking home the Player of the Month award, it was a month dominated by West London.
Does Enzo Maresca’s November award prove that Chelsea are genuine title contenders, or are they still a work in progress?