Joe Cole has delivered his verdict on whether Chelsea should look to get rid of Enzo Maresca if they don’t secure Champions League qualification.
Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, needs one final push from his group of players in the final few games of the 2024/25 season.
The Blues have two Premier League fixtures remaining as they look to secure a top-five finish to qualify for next season’s Champions League. They host Manchester United on Friday night before a trip to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the league campaign. Afterwards, Chelsea will face Real Betis in the Conference League final.
At the moment, Chelsea occupy a Champions League spot because of their superior goal difference.
Enzo Maresca’s target at Chelsea during his debut season as the club’s head coach was to qualify for the Champions League. With two top-flight games remaining, it’s still achievable for them, even though last Sunday’s defeat to Newcastle United made things a bit more challenging.
Joe Cole warns Chelsea not to get rid of Enzo Maresca
Joe Cole, the former Chelsea star, claims the Blues shouldn’t consider sacking Maresca this summer, regardless of how the season finishes.
Cole said on The Dressing Room Podcast: “Even if he (Maresca) missed out on Champions League football by a point, I think there’s been progress. It would be stupid to think we’ll change it up again. This is a process. Chelsea’s project – I think not next season but the season after – Chelsea have to be competing and challenging for all trophies, the Champions League and the Premier League.”
There are worrying claims that Chelsea’s board are split on Enzo Maresca when it comes to the team’s patient style of play.
Frank Leboeuf expects Chelsea to stick with Enzo Maresca because the ownership needs to settle down after frequent managerial changes. Despite the fact the Italian boss is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2029, we will have to wait and see what happens, as football is unpredictable.
It feels like the way Maresca’s first year will be perceived comes down to what happens during the rest of May.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| 54 | 32 | 9 | 13 |
What Pep Guardiola said about Enzo Maresca when he became Chelsea boss
Prior to taking his spot in the manager’s dugout at Chelsea, Maresca enjoyed an interesting route earning his stripes as a coach. This included winning the Championship title at Leicester City plus working as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Back in August 2024, before the new season started, Pep Guardiola tipped Enzo Maresca for success at Chelsea. The Man City boss said: “As a manager, to have success, the most important thing is you must believe in something deeply and, no matter the results, stick with the idea. That’s why he believes in what he does. He will have success – I don’t know how long, but he will have it.”
It feels like a really tense finish to the season for everyone associated with Chelsea, especially Maresca, so the players need to dig deep to help ease the pressure on the head coach.
