Table of Contents
- Maresca Critiques Tosin Adarabioyo's Performance
- Experience vs. Performance
- Maresca's Regret on Player Selection
ENZO Maresca highlighted Tosin Adarabioyo during his pre-Bournemouth press conference, following a poor performance against Leeds.
The manager pointed to him as a reason why his team does NOT need to acquire experienced players in January, after the match on Wednesday night.
Enzo Maresca was visibly upset after his team's loss to LeedsCredit: PA
Tosin was responsible for Leeds’ third goalCredit: Getty
Tosin, 28, faced more criticism than any other player from his manager for his performance.
In a bid to turn the game around while trailing 2-1, Tosin took too long with the ball, which left Robert Sanchez and the...
Maresca, overseeing the youngest team in the Premier League, was questioned about whether lack of experience contributed to his side's defeat in West Yorkshire.
He replied: “We often discuss the lack of experience when we drop points.
“When we won against , or when we drew with , no one mentioned the need for experienced players.
“So, while I understand the search for reasons when we don't win, I believe the reason we lost to Leeds was not due to experience; it was because we simply weren't good enough.
“We have experienced players. Unfortunately, they weren't on the pitch. One was suspended, and another was injured.
“In the match against Leeds, our more experienced players were absent.
“Who was the oldest player on the pitch for us? Tosin. Did he perform well?”
The silence in the press room was heavy, and the answer was clear.
Maresca continued: “So, it’s not about experience. It’s about the 11 players who didn't perform well enough.
“I know we constantly seek experience, but it was a poor game for all of us.”
To further his frustration, Maresca took responsibility for not playing 19-year-old .
Acheampong had shown promise in a goalscoring performance against , which had led to the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou that day.
However, since then, a substitute appearance against Barcelona has seen the young defender play just eight minutes, aside from the 76 minutes he played against Sunderland the following week.
Maresca added, “One of my regrets after the game is not playing Josh.
“The reason we opted for Trev [Chalobah], Tosin, and Benoit [Badiashile] was that our analysis of Leeds showed they often played long balls to Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha.
“We chose physicality to win aerial duels. However, even with that strategy, we lost most of them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Enzo Maresca criticize Tosin Adarabioyo?
Maresca criticized Adarabioyo for his poor performance in the match against Leeds, particularly for his role in conceding the third goal.
What was Maresca's view on the need for experienced players?
Maresca believes that the team's loss was not due to a lack of experience, but rather that the players on the pitch did not perform well enough.
Did Maresca express any regrets regarding player selection?
Yes, Maresca expressed regret for not playing 19-year-old Josh Acheampong, who had shown promise in previous matches.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
