Cagliari signing Winks praises Maresca: 'He made me see football differently'
Quick summary
New Cagliari midfielder Harry Winks has publicly praised former Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, now Chelsea head coach, for transforming his understanding of football.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceHarry Winks has singled out Enzo Maresca and Mauricio Pochettino as the two coaches who shaped him most, crediting the pair for transforming his understanding of the game after completing his move to Cagliari.
The English midfielder, who joined the Sardinians from Leicester City , gave his first interview to the club’s official channels, reflecting on the mentors and team-mates who have defined his career. Winks was especially warm about the two managers he feels changed how he views football.
“I’ve been fortunate to learn from extraordinary coaches and to play alongside exceptional footballers,” Winks said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb .
“Two coaches shaped the way I see football: Pochettino, who gave me the chance to play and emerge at Tottenham. He gave me his full trust, I owe Mauricio a great deal. As for footballing identity and understanding the game, working with Enzo Maresca was something that made me see the game differently.”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, embraces Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Winks names Maresca his best coach in Cagliari interview Pressed for quick answers at the end of the interview, Winks again reached for Maresca, under whom he won the Championship title at Leicester, as the finest coach he has worked with.
His pick for the best team-mate he has played alongside was former Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembélé, while the toughest opponent he has faced was, inevitably, Lionel Messi.
For Cagliari, the hope is that the lessons Winks absorbed from those influences will now benefit a midfield in need of experience as Fabio Pisacane’s side prepare for the new Serie A season.
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What happened
Harry Winks, who recently joined Cagliari, spoke warmly about his time under Enzo Maresca at Leicester City during the 2023-24 Championship-winning campaign. Winks credited Maresca with fundamentally changing how he views the game, highlighting the Italian coach's tactical influence. The comments come as Winks begins a new chapter in Serie A with Cagliari, carrying forward lessons from a pivotal spell in the Championship.
Chance analysis
This is a feel-good feature interview rather than hard tactical or transfer news. It signals Winks's adjustment narrative as he moves to Serie A and indirectly reinforces Maresca's growing reputation as a tactician following his success at Leicester and his current role at Chelsea. For prediction systems, the content has minimal direct match impact but is a useful background signal about Winks's tactical adaptability and Maresca's coaching lineage.
No direct on-pitch impact; reinforces Maresca's coaching reputation and Winks's tactical profile as he settles at Cagliari.
Background context on Winks's tactical development under Maresca; no immediate match-prediction impact.