By TAMARA PRENN, SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER
Published: 14:15 EST, 15 December 2025 | Updated: 14:20 EST, 15 December 2025
Jamie Carragher had an ominous warning for Enzo Maresca after the Chelsea boss cryptically described the 48 hours before their victory against Everton on Saturday as 'the worst' as Blues manager, saying that there was only likely to be 'one winner' in any internal power struggle.
The Italian head coach made the incendiary statement in the wake of the 2-0 home win which returned the hosts to winning ways after a troublesome run at the start of the month.
Maresca accused 'people' of not showing him and his players 'support' in his comments, and has since refused to walk back his statement without making any further clarification.
But on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher did not mince words when he stressed that Maresca was speaking directly to the hierarchy above him in west London.
'It's not uncertain,' Carragher said. 'He's speaking about the owners and the sporting directors.
'I think this is a classic case that you see at a lot of clubs now, where you have a head coach - not a manager - and sporting directors. And what you get is, the coach comes in initially and agrees to the terms and conditions, but then he feels like he's done a really great job.
"If he continues like this, there's only going to be one winner - and it's not him"
Jamie Carragher believes there is a tension between Enzo Maresca and Chelsea's ownership ð¬ pic.twitter.com/MpdrvvsVCI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 15, 2025
Enzo Maresca has been warned that he is unlikely to see out the start of Chelsea's next season
Jamie Carragher was adamant that the manager had made a mistake in airing his grievances
'And he has done a really great job, getting Champions League football last season, and winning a European competition, and winning the Club World Cup.
'So, slowly, he feels like he should get more power. He'd be really disappointed about Chelsea not going into the market and buying a centre back in the summer, when (Levi) Colwill got the big injury. And in the last few weeks, the results have just turned on them a little bit.
'He's calling something out that he wants something, in the public - which I don't agree with,' the Liverpool legend added. 'We talked about Mo Salah last week, it was extreme, but it was a similar sort of situation. I don't like people going public, whether it's a manager or a player, you sort it in-house.
'But the problem for Maresca is, if you continue like this, there's only going to be one winner. And it's not him.'
Doubling down moments later, Carragher added: 'I don't think Enzo Maresca is manager at Chelsea next season.
'I think when you come out and speak like your ownership like that, and you start going public, that's a big problem. I don't see him being there next season.'