Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca faces a crucial week, but despite the poor start to the season, he can still count on the full confidence of the club’s board. After just one win in the last five Premier League matches, the pressure is mounting, but behind the scenes the situation is being viewed more realistically, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Embed from Getty Images
Chelsea’s 2024/25 season was always going to be one of high expectations and enormous pressure. After securing qualification for the Champions League and lifting the newly revamped FIFA Club World Cup during the summer, optimism around Stamford Bridge reached a level the club had not experienced in years.
The spending spree of recent transfer windows, combined with a squad brimming with both young talent and experienced internationals, left many supporters and pundits believing this could be the season Chelsea reestablish themselves as genuine contenders both domestically and in Europe.
Yet the reality of the opening weeks has been far more complicated. Defeats against Manchester United and Brighton exposed weaknesses in consistency and decision-making, while a run of just one win in their last five Premier League matches has placed Enzo Maresca under growing scrutiny. With the club sitting eighth in the table, seven points off top spot, the pressure from fans and media alike has been unavoidable. Critics argue that a team with Chelsea’s resources should be producing far more dominant performances.
Behind the scenes, however, the mood is calmer. According to reports, including updates from Fabrizio Romano, the Chelsea hierarchy continues to stand firmly behind Maresca. The board views the criticism as exaggerated, taking into account the unique challenges that have shaped the start of this campaign. The Club World Cup win was celebrated as an important milestone, but it also disrupted preseason preparations. Training schedules were adjusted, and the intensity of summer fixtures left several key players fatigued. In addition, early red cards and suspensions have forced Maresca into reshuffling lineups, often disrupting tactical plans and affecting results.
The board’s approach is measured. Rather than making rash judgments based on short-term results, Chelsea’s leadership intends to evaluate Maresca comprehensively at the end of the season. The goals remain ambitious but realistic: finish in the Premier League’s top four, ensure qualification for next year’s Champions League, and mount strong challenges in both domestic cups and Europe. Within this framework, occasional setbacks are accepted as part of the process of building consistency in a team still integrating new signings and developing chemistry.
Maresca’s philosophy has also been a point of discussion. Known for his tactical discipline and focus on structured possession play, the Italian is trying to instill a more controlled and balanced approach compared to the chaos that sometimes defined Chelsea’s previous campaigns. This transition, however, requires patience. Younger players such as Cole Palmer, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Malo Gusto are being given more responsibility, while established figures like Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling are expected to provide leadership during a period of adaptation. The club believes Maresca is the right man to manage this balance, even if results have not immediately reflected the progress being made.
The coming weeks will provide a clearer picture of Chelsea’s trajectory. Fixtures against Liverpool and the resumption of Champions League football will test both the squad’s depth and Maresca’s tactical nous. These high-profile matches could either fuel the criticism further or serve as turning points that validate the board’s faith in their manager. Either way, the consensus at Stamford Bridge is that stability, rather than upheaval, offers the best chance of long-term success.
For now, Maresca’s job is not in danger. The board sees him as central to the club’s vision of sustained competitiveness and financial stability under UEFA’s strict regulations. But he will be judged by how Chelsea performs in the months ahead. Results will ultimately determine whether this faith is rewarded or whether the club finds itself once again debating managerial change a familiar cycle the owners are eager to break.
Updated: 04:22, 29 Sep 2025
