“People don’t realise how good he is” - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says 37-year-old Premier League star is better than Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on Jamie Vardy and called him the best England striker ever. He believes that the Leicester City star is better than Englandegends Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match against Leicester City on Saturday, Maresca highlighted that Vardy can do a lot more than Rooney and Kane. The Chelsea manager added that the Englishman can adapt to changes in tactics better and said via Metro:
"Vardy is fantastic and people don't realise how good he is. I know that England has been quite lucky with strikers, like Kane, Rooney and many others, but if you ask me he has been the best one. He can do many things, like run in behind and finish, but the best thing for me is his open mind."
"Last year he changed the way he was playing by dropping in, linking the play and he still wants to learn. But of course he still has the one thing that is most difficult to find, which is to score goals. He can be out for one week, without training, and play on the Saturday or Sunday and he's the one who scores," he added.
Jamie Vardy started for Leicester City against Chelsea but failed to find the back of the net. The Englishman has scored four goals in 11 Premier League matches this season.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on Jamie Vardy's season at Leicester City last season
Enzo Maresca managed Jamie Vardy at Leicester City last season, and the Foxes made their way back to the Premier League in fine fashion. Speaking about the title celebrations at the Championship club, the current Chelsea manager said:
"The best present I had from last season was when we got promoted and they arrived at my home. All the team. This showed the connection between the players; they could go for a party at a different place but they all arrived at my home. It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful for them. I was at home celebrating with my staff and my family and about two o’clock in the morning all the squad was there. We celebrated all together. When I was a player and I won things I never thought to go to the manager’s home. That shows the connection."
Jamie Vardy scored 20 goals in 37 matches for Leicester City under Enzo Maresca last season. The manager left the Foxes for Chelsea in the summer, after they parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino.