Chelsea chiefs seem to be using the departure of Enzo Maresca as a shield to withstand criticism for the current situation the club finds itself in.
Under Liam Rosenior, the Blues are now out of the Champions League, and sleepwalking towards a Premier League finish outside of the top five.
This has seen plenty question the decision to part ways with Maresca. Even if he ended up essentially quitting, he was put in a position where he felt like he couldn’t continue.
Quarter-final 2! Xabi Alonso or Cesc Fabregas?
Chelsea believe Enzo Maresca leaving has taken them backwards
The latest briefing to journalist Nizaar Kinsella has stated that the club feel they have taken ‘a backward step’ after the Italian left on New Year’s Day.
He said to BBC Sport: “They felt they were making progress under Maresca, but his decision to effectively walk away left them taking a backward step before they could move forward again.
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, looks on
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
“People inside Chelsea believe they have recruited well in many areas, with some wastage inevitable at a big club.”
The phrase ‘some wastage’ won’t go down well with large portions of the fanbase.
Even from the most recent transfer window, the signings of Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap have proven to not strengthen the side to the tune of around £120m.
Chelsea have been keen to blame Maresca for the current struggles in order to protect Rosenior, who has walked into a difficult situation in West London.
Blues supporters have shown their discontent at the current manager, and he faces a difficult task to turn things around this season.
How many points will we pick up here?
And will it be enough to save Liam Rosenior’s job?
Chelsea’s sporting directors are somehow still escaping blame
Kinsella went on to talk about how the sporting directors are currently under no pressure in their roles, with what they have delivered not being seen as an underperformance.
He said: “There has never been any indication they would be reviewed for what fans increasingly see as underperformance.
“They would argue that they have reduced the wage bill, balanced the books and still won a couple of trophies last season.”
Dean Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have come in for mass criticism from Chelsea fans recently, largely those who are organising another protest at Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen if their voices are heard this time around, but the evidence so far suggests their complaints will fall on deaf ears again.
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