Jamie Carragher has declared that he doesn't believe Enzo Maresca will remain as Chelsea head coach next season, following the Italian's admission that he lacks backing at the club. Following the victory over Everton on Saturday, Maresca revealed that the preceding two days had been his "worst 48 hours" at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking after the Everton match, the former Leicester manager explained: "This is the reason why I praise the players because with so many problems they are doing very well after a complicated week. The last 48 hours has been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn't support us."
Maresca declined to elaborate on his comments during Monday's pre-match press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup clash with Cardiff. Instead, the 45-year-old insisted he had "nothing to add" when pressed about his earlier statements.
Carragher has now weighed in on the situation with a scathing assessment, suggesting he cannot envisage Maresca being at Chelsea when the 2026/27 campaign begins.
"Going forward, where can Maresca go that's better than Chelsea? I'm not sure," Carragher told Sky Sports.
"Now Chelsea as a club will feel: 'We can go and get another manager.' They could. Could they get someone better than Maresca?
"Maybe, but when you look at what's gone on at Spurs in the last couple of years, what's gone on at Manchester United in a couple of years, you can easily go and get a manager who is not at that level.
"Maresca can go up against any manager as he's proved. Whether it's Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot, Barcelona, Champions League. He's more than capable tactically and as a top coach."
Carragher added: "I don't think Maresca is manager of Chelsea next season. I think when you come out and speak on your ownership like that and you start going public, it's a big problem. I don't see him there next season."
Chelsea are set to take on Cardiff on Tuesday in their bid to secure a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final for the second time in three years, having made it to the final and suffered defeat to Liverpool at Wembley in 2024.
Ahead of the match, Maresca said: "Football is full of these kind of games where the favourite one, they can lose and they can drop out.
"These are the worst games for this reason. That's why we need to pay attention. It can be the third semi-final in 18 months and it's something important.
"To have the winning mentality, you need to win games. Otherwise the players don't believe you. Since day one, we are trying to win games.
"Tomorrow is another chance to be there in another semi-final, no matter the competition. It's an important moment for the players, for the fans, for the club, for everyone."