Enzo Maresca sack now ‘dangerously close’ at Chelsea
Enzo Maresca is now thought to be “dangerously close” to the sack at Chelsea after breaking the “one law” a manager has to abide by.
The Italian has been the architect of his own downfall this season, having enjoyed a strong start to life at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea looked to affirm themselves as challengers to Liverpool in the early stages of the season before tumbling down the table during the Christmas period, and are now at serious risk of missing out on Champions League football for a third-straight season.
Following a 2-2 draw with Ipswich on Sunday, with Jadon Sancho saving Chelsea thanks to a stunning latestrike, Maresca made the ill-advised decision of criticising the “environment” created by the home fans, as boos rang out and supporters chanted “boring”.
Gabby Agbonlahor questions what Enzo Maresca is doing at Chelsea
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor was astonished at Maresca’s decision to criticise Chelsea fans, highlighting the “one law” every manager must adhere to, saying (14 April, 4.12pm): “I feel like there’s one law in football as a manager: once you lose the fans, you lose your job.
“Maresca, what are you doing? Calling out the fans?”
Goldstein then asks if Agbonlahor thinks Maresca is gone, to which the ex-England international responds: “I think he’s dangerously close because once you lose the fans, and I’ve seen it the last 20, 25 years, you lose the fans, you’re gone.
“As an owner, you’re like ‘mmm, the connection’s gone with the fans, the fans are booing the manager.'”
Enzo Maresca’s criticism of fans highlights loss of control
Football Insider Verdict
Maresca’s decision to blame the environment created by Chelsea fans against Ipswich is the action of a man losing control.
Of course, having your own supporters on your back can’t be easy to deal with, but as Chris Sutton highlighted on the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast, that’s your job as a footballer to deal with.
Having spent much of the season working with a bloated squad full of talented footballers desperate to make their mark, Maresca settled on a system wholly reliant on the brilliance of Cole Palmer.
Now that the former Man City man’s magic has begun to subside, the Italian’s tactical system has been exposed to be one that limits, rather than elevates, his team.
Results are fading, the fans are unsettled, and a boardroom war between Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali is brewing, with Maresca uncomfortably positioned in the middle of the chaos. The Italian may sense the end is nigh and look to jump, before he is pushed.