Chelsea Board Turns the Screw on Maresca After Shaky Start
London, September 29, 2025 โ Stamford Bridge woke to tension today after a bombshell BBC Sport report revealed the scale of the pressure now bearing down on Enzo Maresca. Six games into the new Premier League season, Chelsea sit eighth, already seven points off the pace, and the Italian coach has been given an uncompromising ultimatum: secure a top-four finish or face the sack.
Maresca, lauded for steering Leicester back to the top flight last year, was supposed to be the man to turn Chelseaโs billion-pound rebuild into results. But with just eight points from six league matches, back-to-back defeats, and a defence leaking 1.5 goals per game, his honeymoon is over.
A Harsh September
The past fortnight has been brutal. A 2-1 home defeat to Brighton โ marred by Trevoh Chalobahโs red card โ was followed by a 3-0 collapse at Manchester United after Robert Sanchezโs early dismissal. A stoppage-time draw at Brentford and a laboured Carabao Cup win against Lincoln City have hardly lifted spirits. Even the 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, rescued by Cole Palmerโs late strike, exposed fragility at the back against Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala.
The boardโs frustration has spilled into view. Sporting chiefs Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart joined co-owner Behdad Eghbali in a rare post-match dressing-room visit after the Brighton defeat, a show of force Maresca dismissed as โroutine.โ Behind the scenes, insiders say heated words were exchanged over his public complaints about transfers โ particularly the lack of an experienced centre-back after Levi Colwillโs season-ending injury.
Boardroom Expectations
The clubโs hierarchy views this squad โ boosted by summer signings Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, and teenage sensation Kendry Paez โ as more than capable of a Champions League push. โAnything less than top four is failure,โ one insider told the BBC, a stance that underscores the ruthless culture at Chelsea.
Yet Maresca has hinted the squad isnโt balanced enough, noting โnot so manyโ quality additions arrived in key areas. That comment has not gone down well in the boardroom, where the signings of Jorrel Hato and Sancho are seen as part of a long-term plan.
Media & Fan Backlash
Pundits havenโt held back. Alan Shearer warned, โChelsea managers know the deal โ results or the sack.โ Gary Neville likened the side to โa Ferrari with no grip,โ while Jamie Carragher claimed Marescaโs complaints about recruitment are โpiling pressure on himself.โ
Supporters are split. Social media is awash with #MarescaOut and #ChelseaExpectations, though Palmerโs sparkling form โ five goals and seven assists already โ has kept belief alive in flashes. Enzo Fernandez looks sharper, Sancho has hinted at revival, and Chelseaโs metrics (62% possession, third-best xG) suggest potential. The problem: sloppy defending and wasteful finishing.
A Defining Week
The fixture list offers no mercy. On Tuesday, Chelsea face Benfica in the Champions League โ a narrative-laden reunion with Jose Mourinho. Then, on Saturday, they host league leaders Liverpool. Both matches come without Palmer (suspended) and Colwill, raising fears of another setback.
Maresca remains defiant. โWeโre young, weโre learning, weโll fight,โ he insisted. But history at Stamford Bridge is unforgiving. Lampard, Tuchel, and Potter all fell victim to the revolving door. Unless results change quickly, Maresca could be next.
For now, the clock is ticking, and every move he makes will be judged.
