Chelsea’s stance on Enzo Maresca’s future after disappointing start to season

Enzo Maresca maintains the full support of Chelsea bosses and there are currently no plans to sack the manager despite the club’s poor start to the campaign.

Chelsea have picked up just two wins from their opening six matches in the Premier League, leaving them seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool down in eighth place.

The Blues had been tipped as a potential title contender after Maresca oversaw wins in both the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup last term, while also leading the west London giants to Champions League qualification with a fourth-place finish.

But three defeats in four games has seen Maresca come under intense pressure at this early stage of the season and the Italian’s position in the hot seat has once again come under some scrutiny in recent weeks.

It doesn’t get any easier for Chelsea either. Maresca’s men host Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday night before returning to top-flight action with a tricky run against Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and high-flying Sunderland.

According to BBC Sport, though, Chelsea’s hierarchy are refusing to hit the panic button and Maresca ‘continues to hold the club’s full confidence’ at this stage.

The report claims there is a feeling behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge that some of the negativity and pessimism surrounding Maresca has been over the top and club chiefs believe the 45-year-old can turn the side’s fortunes around.

Chelsea are said to be taking a ‘fuller perspective on matters’ and recognise that a disrupted pre-season has likely been a significant factor in the club’s struggles of late.

Maresca hasn’t been helped by a lack of discipline from his players in Chelsea’s last two defeats, with Robert Sanchez and Trevoh Chalobah sent off against Manchester United and Brighton respectively.

A morale-boosting victory at home to Benfica could prove key in rebuilding a sense of confidence within a star-studded squad which is among the costliest ever seen in football.

‘We have 72 hours and we go again,’ Maresca told reporters following Chelsea’s latest setback at home to Brighton.

‘Fortunately, we have the game in three days, so it’s a matter of recovering energy and we will try to win on Tuesday.’

The ‘frustrated’ Chelsea head coach scolded his players for repeatedly gifting the opposition ‘presents’.

He added: ‘The frustration is there because we scored one and could’ve scored more than one.

‘If we score the second one, even with ten players, it’s better to defend a two-goal lead.

‘It’s a moment we’re giving away presents, and we cannot continue to do this.’

Maresca boasts a 61.11 win percentage since taking over the reins from Mauricio Pochettino back in July 2024 – the highest among the last five permanent Chelsea managers.

The former Leicester boss put pen to paper on a five-year contract when he arrives through the doors at Stamford Bridge, tying him to the club until the summer of 2029.

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer, is confident Maresca will ‘understand’ the criticism and scrutiny he has faced after Chelsea’s inauspicious start.

‘I think as a Chelsea manager, once you accept that position, you know that you are under pressure if you lose matches – and they’ve lost two,’ the ex-Newcastle and England striker said on Match of the Day.

‘That’s the rule of management, I guess, but more so when you are at Chelsea.

‘You can’t lose games and they’ve now lost two so I think you understand the situation.’

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