Enzo Maresca is facing mounting pressure at Chelsea after two defeats in their last three games, including a 3-0 loss to Brighton.
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Maresca joined Chelsea from Leicester last summer and initially appeared to revitalize the team, briefly challenging Liverpool for the title.
After securing five consecutive wins in December, Chelsea’s form has dipped, and they now face a struggle to qualify for the Champions League following the dismal loss to Brighton on Friday.
Currently sitting sixth in the table, Chelsea are one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, but Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are surprising contenders for higher positions this season.
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Nevertheless, Maresca still has a good chance of securing Champions League football, as the Premier League is expected to receive five Champions League spots next season due to its superior co-efficient over Italy’s Serie A.
According to The Athletic, Chelsea’s board, led by American owner Todd Boehly, are “happy” with the team’s progress under Maresca, a disciple of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The report states that the Chelsea hierarchy believe Maresca is overperforming, given he was not expected to qualify for the Champions League in his first season.
Chelsea’s development has been hindered by numerous injuries. Maresca is without a recognized No.9, as Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu are injured, and Joao Felix has been loaned out.
Additionally, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, and Malo Gusto are also sidelined, while Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended, garnering sympathy for Maresca’s situation and the team’s current struggles.
Before the Brighton defeat, Maresca expressed that Chelsea were moving in the “right direction” but could not hide his frustration after the team’s embarrassing loss at the Amex, their second consecutive defeat there after exiting the FA Cup days earlier.
“My frustration was about everything,” he said. “We feel sorry for the fans that came. In the position that we are, arriving with 14 games to go, we need to do much better.
“We are in a moment when we feel we can concede easily and struggle to score. I think before the goal they didn’t have some chances. There are many things we can do better. Now is the moment we need to stick together. I always feel pressure but this was the worst performance since I arrived.”
