‘Chelsea to sack Enzo Maresca regardless of Europa Conference League win’
Chelsea won’t hesitate to sack Enzo Maresca regardless of whether or not the club win the UEFA Conference League this season, in contrast to questions over the decision at Tottenham
Darren Bent has claimed that winning that competition will not be enough to prevent the Italian being dismissed from his post at Stamford Bridge come the end of this season.
Maresca was only appointed by the club last summer, after he had guided Leicester City to the Championship title.
After a strong start the season has fallen away for the Blues, who are facing a fight to qualify for the Champions League.
Meanwhile, the Conference League is the club’s only hope of winning silverware this season, all of which has seen Chelsea fans call for Maresca to be sacked already.
Enzo Maresca facing Chelsea sack
Given the Conference League’s status as UEFA’s third-tier competition behind the Champions League and Europa League, Bent believes winning that title will not be enough to keep Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
The former England international feels that Chelsea will have their ambitions set much higher than that particular piece of silverware, or even the Europa League.
There is an expectation that Ange Postecoglou will be sacked by Tottenham this summer even if they win the Europa League to end their long wait for a trophy, but the debate continues over whether the Australian should get another shot if he breaks Spurs’ long trophy drought.
| Premier League position | Played | Points |
| 3. Manchester City | 34 | 61 |
| 4. Nottingham Forest | 33 | 60 |
| 5. Newcastle United | 33 | 59 |
| 6. Chelsea | 33 | 57 |
| 7. Aston Villa | 34 | 57 |
While discussing that situation on talkSPORT, Bent decided: “I don’t think he [Postecoglou] is there [at Tottenham] at the start of next season.
“But then Chelsea, this is my thing right, will sack Maresca at the end of the season regardless, because they will see, they don’t care about the cup.
“A club like Chelsea, their season shouldn’t be based on Conference League football, no way.”
As host Andy Goldstein then suggested that would be the case even if the Blues won the second-tier Europa League, Bent then added: “He still would go”.
Chelsea have big decision to make over managerial situation
Football Insider Verdict
As is so often the case, Maresca was handed a long-term contract when he took charge at Stamford Bridge back in the summer.
Beyond that, Maresca has been involved in Chelsea securing signings such as Geovany Quenda, who is not set to join the club until the summer of 2026.
That would indicate that the Italian remains in the long-term plans of the decision makers at Stamford Bridge.
However, the club have shown on plenty of occasions in the past that they are not scared to cut ties with a manager, even after relatively short periods in charge.
Maresca therefore cannot feel that he is safe in the job right now, given a club with the history of Chelsea will expect to win bigger trophies than the Conference League, even if they want to now they’re here.
The finances that come from qualifying for the Champions League will be much more important and desirable for the decision makes at Stamford Bridge.
So if Maresca does not secure a top five place that will get his side into UEFA’s top-tier competition, there may well be scrutiny on his job this summer.