Enzo Maresca is under no illusions when it comes to the quality that Newcastle United possess.
His Chelsea side travel to St James’ Park on Sunday, in a game that will be massively decisive in the race for Champions League football.
It is Newcastle’s biggest Premier League game of the season, and a win will put them on the brink of Champions League qualification.
Ahead of the game, Enzo Maresca has spoken about the threats that Newcastle United possess.
One player he is very aware of is his fellow Italian Sandro Tonali, who Maresca believes is ‘fantastic’.
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Enzo Maresca hails ‘top’ Sandro Tonali
Ahead of Newcastle United vs Chelsea, Maresca has spoken to the media.
He was asked to give his thoughts on Sandro Tonali.
“Sandro probably this season has been top for Newcastle,” he said.
“For him, he’s doing very well. He’s a fantastic player. I know him since he was in Brescia and then moved to Milan and then now here in England.
“He’s a fantastic player, he’s doing well but they have many, many good players. They are different players. We’re going to try to prepare the game in the best way, in the way that we think we can win the game and hopefully at the end we can be happy with the result.”
Sandro Tonali’s big Newcastle United moment came against Chelsea
Maresca knew all about Tonali before his £55million move to Newcastle United. He will not be surprised to see the 25-year-old doing so well.
Tonali has been one of the Magpies’ best players this season, with the midfielder becoming a pivotal figure since taking on the ‘number six’ role.
Chelsea were the first club to face Newcastle United with Tonali in this position, and they could not stop him.
Howe tested Tonali in the ‘six’ during the Carabao Cup win over the Blues in October 2024. At the time, Geordie Boot Boys described it as Tonali’s best ever Newcastle United game.
It was a window into the future, and Tonali has gone on to make that position his own.
He is part of what is arguably the Premier League’s best midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. Unfortunately for Newcastle, Joelinton is unavailable to face Chelsea on Sunday due to a knee injury.
But Tonali will start for the Magpies, as he aims to prove Maresca right.
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