Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is coming towards the end of his first season at Stamford Bridge and there has been some speculation over the Italian’s long-term future
Enzo Maresca is safe from the sack this season – even if the Italian does not manage to guide Chelsea to a top five finish and a spot in next year’s Champions League.
Maresca, 45, was appointed as Mauricio Pochettino‘s successor in the summer and could yet end a mixed maiden season at the helm with a trophy, with Chelsea set to meet Real Betis in the Europa Conference League final.
The Blues tailed off somewhat in the Premier League after initially being billed as unlikely title contenders but will finish in the top five if they win their final two fixtures. However, even if they fall short against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, Maresca is going nowhere.
As first revealed by The Telegraph, the Chelsea hierarchy are planning to give Maresca at least two full seasons at the helm before assessing his performance, meaning all the pressure is off the former Leicester City chief.
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It’s said that failure to qualify for the Champions League this season would be viewed internally as a ‘disappointment’ but would not give those in the corridors of power at Stamford Bridge any reason to consider a change.
The report also outlines that Maresca, who worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before taking on the top job at Leicester, ‘is of interest’ to other clubs across Europe.
While he has Chelsea on course for a return to the Champions League, not everybody has been convinced by Maresca this season, including some of the club’s fans.
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A section of the away support sang the name of club legend and former manager, Frank Lampard, during last month’s derby with Fulham, which Chelsea won at the death courtesy of a dramatic turnaround.
Maresca raised eyebrows when he disappeared quickly down the tunnel but insisted he exited stage left to give his players the chance to celebrate with the supporters.
He explained: “I was very happy because it is a nice feeling to win the game at the end. But the players deserved to celebrate with the fans, that is the reason why I left the pitch early. It was a nice moment for the players and the fans.”
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