Despite a recent slump in form, Chelsea reportedly has no intention of sacking their manager, Enzo Maresca. The Blues suffered a convincing 3-0 defeat against Brighton at the AMEX Stadium, failing to register a single shot on target. Maresca has since apologized to Chelsea’s travelling fans, calling the performance the worst since he took over
This defeat is the latest in a series of stumbles since mid-December. After a five-game winning streak, Chelsea has only managed two wins in their last nine league matches, with only six clubs earning fewer points during this period.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Maresca’s position is secure, with Chelsea viewing him as “the right man for the job. The Athletic also reports that Chelsea is “happy” with Maresca as their head coach. The club acknowledges that extensive injuries have hampered the team, but they remain in contention for Champions League qualification, a goal initially set for the 2025/26 season. Maresca has emphasized that they are “in the right process” and “in the right direction”.
Chelsea is currently sixth in the table, just one point outside the top four, after wins by Manchester City and Bournemouth. Earlier in the season, Chelsea had a chance to go top with a win at Everton but were held to a goalless draw, after which their form declined. The team’s performance has dropped, and they face challenges due to injuries to key players like Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson, with Noni Madueke also suffering a hamstring injury in the defeat to Brighton.
Despite increasing frustration from supporters towards both the ownership and the manager, The Athletic reports that Chelsea is happy with Maresca’s work and understands the challenges posed by the current injury situation. Chelsea will face Aston Villa in a tough away game.
Maresca was appointed as Chelsea’s head coach on June 3, 2024, replacing Mauricio Pochettino. He signed a five-year deal with an option to extend for another year, beginning his term on July 1, 2024.