Chelsea respond to Enzo Maresca sack claims after poor run

Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein says Enzo Maresca is doing a ‘great job’ and will ‘100 per cent’ still be in the charge for the remainder of the season.

Maresca’s Blues have badly struggled to replicate their impressive early-season form since the turn of the year, winning just three of their last 11 games in all competitions.

The concerning blip has seen the west London giants plummet to sixth place in the Premier League table and the club sit 18 points adrift of leaders Liverpool ahead of this weekend’s top-flight action.

Confidence levels within Chelsea’s squad will undoubtedly have taken a knock after a humbling 3-0 defeat to Brighton last weekend out but victory over Aston Villa on Saturday could see Maresca’s men return to the top four.

Chelsea’s strong start under Maresca prompted some fans and pundits to talk up the side’s title chances, with Cole Palmer and Co suffering only three defeats in the league heading into the busy Christmas period.

And while Maresca repeatedly batted away suggestions of an unlikely title challenge, the Italian has faced increasing pressure amid their torrid run of form.

However, The Athletic this week reported that Todd Boehly remains ‘happy’ with Chelsea’s progress and club director Goldstein is adamant Maresca has the full backing of the board.

‘He’s doing a great job,’ Goldstein said while appearing on Bloomberg TV in his capacity as the head of real estate investment firm Cain International.

‘Chelsea started the season very well. The last six weeks have been, you know, finding their feet a little bit more. 

‘But Enzo has clearly done a great job in bringing the team together, bringing the talent through.

‘We’re very optimistic for the rest of the season in how that plays out.’

Asked if Maresca will still be in the job come the summer, Goldstein replied: ‘100 per cent.’ 

Maresca put pen to paper on a five-year contract – with the option of a further year – when he took over the reins at Stamford Bridge last summer, tying him to the club until 2029.

According to ex-Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell, the team have surpassed expectations in Maresca’s debut season and Champions League qualification should be deemed a ‘great achievement’.

‘They are in a project, they’ve overachieved this year,’ Sidwell said on The Dressing Room Podcast.

‘When they got to second in the Premier League and two points behind Liverpool… that wasn’t a true reflection. Since Enzo Maresca said that it has gone the other way.

‘It’s a project, we’ve got to remember that, and if they get top four… well top five gets you Champions League now… which would be a great achievement for them and then you build on that again.’

Sidwell challenged Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Christopher Nkunku to ‘step up to the plate’ over the coming weeks, with an injury to Nicolas Jackson threatening to further derail Chelsea’s season.

He added: ‘When I look at Chelsea now, up until probably Christmas, when they were playing and performing well, it’s all fine and then when they hit a rocky patch it’s a case of who is pulling people together.

‘That shows with the performances. Their first to second half performances have been chalk and cheese in terms of scoring and conceding goals.

‘There are loads of factors. Their backline has been very disjointed with injuries, relying on Cole Palmer. Sancho, Madueke, Nkunku, it’s been a bit unfair with him because he hasn’t had a run of games, but they need to step up to the plate.’

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