‘Chelsea players to use blind Enzo Maresca excuses against him’
Enzo Maresca has been warned about the impact his recent comments could have on the performance of his Chelsea squad, by Troy Deeney.
The former Watford striker suggested the Blues boss has become “blind” to the situation at Stamford Bridge by attempting to lower expectations around the club.
Things initially started well for the Italian after he took charge of the West London outfit back in the summer, as they even challenged for a place at the top of the Premier League table earlier in the season.
However, Maresca has since seen his side win just three of their last 11 games in all competitions, after Chelsea were comfortably beaten again by Brighton on Friday (14 February) despite one controversially disallowed goal.
‘Enzo Maresca comments could backfire’ – Troy Deeney
Speaking recently, Maresca had angered Chelsea fans by suggesting the club are not currently capable of competing for multiple trophies at once.
The Italian has also since suggested that they are ahead of schedule by competing for a top four finish this season, stating that a Champions League qualification was not expected until the following campaign.
However, Deeney has suggested that the squad at Stamford Bridge could use those comments as an excuse to sit off at times in the coming months, as he feels they recently did against.
In turn, that is something he believes could cause issues for Maresca further down the line.
Speaking on talkSPORT about those comments from Maresca about Chelsea‘s aims for this season and the impact of those claims on the performances of players, in the wake of the defeats to Brighton, Deeney said: “They were walking as well, that’s the thing for me.
“I just think when a manager’s so blind to it like making excuses the players just eat that up, and go ‘yeah keep that in the back pocket so when he starts shouting we go oh you said we didn’t really have to get in the top four.”
After being asked if those comments from Maresca will affect the mindset of the squad, Deeney added: “It just lowers the expectations for the whole building.
“But then you’ll contradict yourself and say each day you’ve got to give it your best and push for that 1% marginal gains, but by the way, we’ve got two years to make Champions League.
“Players don’t think like that what are we doing: win this game and keep going for that target it’s still available top four so we go for that.
“I just think it’s a new way of doing it with coaches they try and downplay it so there’s no expectation on them when actually all see through it as you say we call nonsense on it”
Chelsea will be wary of Enzo Maresca comments
Football Insider Verdict
There have been recent suggestions that Chelsea are still planning to back Maresca despite the club’s recent dip in form.
Even so, they will be keen to keep a close eye on what he is actually capable of getting out of this squad, given how much they have spent on it.
Of course, some would argue that they have paid over the odds on many of those signings, but the fact remains they ought to be performing better than they currently are.
If Maresca does not show that he is the man to oversee that turnaround, then the recent turnover of managers at Chelsea suggests they would not be adverse to making another change.
Indeed, this is a club that has become used to winning trophies over the years, and so even if they do not do so this season, it is imperative they show they are getting closer to doing that.
But if, as Deeney says, these comments from Maresca affect the mindset of the squad to such an extent that they do start to switch off, it will be harder for the Italian to make the case that he is the right man to do that job.