Enzo Maresca’s arrival at Chelsea heralds a new era, not just on the pitch but also in the dietary habits of the players.
Joining him from Leicester is fitness coach Marcos Alvarez, renowned for his stringent approach to nutrition.
Having previously worked at clubs like Sevilla, Parma, and Tottenham, Alvarez is known for banning seemingly innocuous foods with the aim of optimizing player performance.
During his tenure at Tottenham, Alvarez famously removed items like sauce, fruit juice, cake, and even salt and pepper from the menu, much to the chagrin of some players.
His methods saw resistance, with reports of players resorting to sneaking in fast food during pre-season and even sending their captain, Ledley King, to negotiate for the return of certain banned items – to no avail.
Alvarez’s rationale for these dietary restrictions revolves around enhancing player fitness and performance.
He remains steadfast in his beliefs, unyielding even in the face of player dissent. His influence is expected to extend to Chelsea, where players can anticipate similar adjustments to their meal options, as Maresca looks to instill a culture of discipline and optimization within the squad.