Despite back-to-back wins for Chelsea in the last seven days, talk about the future of Enzo Maresca has refused to die down.
The manager launched an attack on higher-ups at the club for the perceived lack of backing amid the club’s recent poor form.
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Maresca decided not to clarify his comments in the next press conference, with this saga not looking like one that is going to disappear anytime soon.
It was the manager’s substitutions which sent Chelsea to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, with Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto scoring off the bench to beat Cardiff.
Leeds United v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
Journalist Ben Jacobs has stated that Maresca is concerned about the lack of security over his role, especially when he sees the backing Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given to Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
He told ‘London is Blue’: “And my understanding is that doesn’t relate to one individual, but it’s about a lack of what he perceives. And that’s an important word because it’s his perspective. Sometimes it can be grounded in reality.
“Sometimes it can just be what the manager thinks. But Maresca, whether rightly or wrongly, perceives a lack of protection. And he listens to Sir Jim Ratcliffe come out and say Ruben Amorim will be judged after three years.
“That might just be bravado. And no manager at big football club can necessarily be over protected. But Maresca feels under protected.
“And yet, if you speak to Chelsea Insiders, they’re a little bit surprised by that, because they point to the festive and early new period last season, where they didn’t do anything knee-jerk.
“They look at the five-year contract compared to Pochettino, the review coming, which is pre-planned after two years, not one year. So, there’s quite a few differences between Pochettino and Maresca in terms of how this Chelsea ownership and leadership team have approached things.”
Jim Ratcliffe during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - Premier League
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Enzo Maresca’s stats vs Ruben Amorim’s
It is sometimes forgotten amongst some corners of the club that Maresca delivered two trophies to Stamford Bridge in his first season at the club.
The backing Amorim is publicly receiving can be seen as an insult to the Italian, with him enjoying a far more successful start to life in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca vs Ruben Amorim PL stats Enzo Maresca Ruben Amorim
Games 54 43
Wins 28 14
Draws 13 11
Defeats 13 18
Chelsea fans have made their support of Maresca known amid this saga, however he will feel under pressure to continue to deliver results, especially with the scattergun nature of those above him on the board.
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