Decision on Maresca's future at Chelsea to be made ahead of Manchester City trip

Enzo Maresca is on the brink at Chelsea, with a final decision over his future expected to be made today.

There is no guarantee Maresca will be in charge for Sunday's game at Manchester City after a breakdown in relations with the club.

Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday that the Italian was in danger of losing his job if results did not improve, following a run of one win in seven Premier League games amid a backdrop of tension.

Maresca, meanwhile, has been considering his position, with the feeling it has become untenable. His contract runs until the summer of 2029, with a club option of a further year.

Key developments at Stamford Bridge are now expected on Thursday and Friday.

Relations have been strained between Maresca and key figures at the club going back to this time last year.

Missing his post-match press conference on Tuesday night was another sign of the problems behind the scenes - even though his absence was attributed to illness.

The Italian has stood by the comments he made on 13 December when he claimed that many people at the club were not supporting him or the team.

He described the days leading up to the 2-0 victory over Everton as "the worst 48 hours" of his time at the club.

Two more dispiriting and lacklustre performances at Stamford Bridge against Aston Villa and Bournemouth over the holiday period have increased the pressure.

Maresca's fortunes were sky high after Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-0 in November and sat three points off the top of the table but a series of self-inflicted wounds, some questionable decisions and damaging defeats by Leeds, Atalanta and Villa have put him under more pressure than ever.

Maresca signed a five-year contract when he joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024 and the club have an option to extend it by a further year.

Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025 and Maresca led them back into the Champions League.

Problems behind the scenes at Chelsea

Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:

"There appears to be something wrong at Chelsea. Back in November, they were flying high after beating Barcelona in the Champions League, but since then they have won just two of nine games.

"There was a self-inflicting wound with the comments made after Chelsea beat Everton where he said the days leading up to the game had been "the worst 48 hours" of his time at the club and that "many people" were not supporting him. He didn't need to make those comments but that lifted the lid on there being things behind the scenes not quite right at Chelsea.

"When you are at Chelsea you are not the manager, you are the head coach and you have to fit into the structure that has been put in place at the club. There are sporting directors that Maresca has to work closely with and there has to be a team behind the team.

"The question is: Is that team united or are there problems behind the scenes in that team? Can those problems be sorted?

"The other question I'd ask is whether those problems are affecting performances and results?

"With the quality of players Chelsea have in their squad and with the performances we have seen against Barcelona and against Arsenal, they have a very good squad, but for whatever reason, now, Maresca is not getting the best out of those players.

"You can feel that at Stamford Bridge. You can feel the disconnect between the team and the fans and it needs to be turned around very quickly."

Analysis: Maresca and Chelsea have not taken chance to kick on

Sky Sports' Ron Walker:

"At the end of last season it felt as though there was a chance to build something, as Enzo Maresca led a young Chelsea squad back to the Champions League, then the Conference League and Club World Cup titles.

"How much of that progress has been made six months on? Judging by the boos during and after the Blues' latest poor result against Bournemouth, not a great deal.

"Looking at the Premier League table, this seems a harsh assessment, with Chelsea well in the mix for a Champions League spot.

"But much like when Frank Lampard became the final managerial casualty of the Roman Abramovich era, it is the direction of travel which is the problem. At the midway point of 2025/26 they are five points worse off than at this point last year and drifting.

"Maresca finds himself held responsible for most, though not all of the underlying issues. Over-rotation has been a long-term bugbear - Chelsea have made 55 line-up changes this season, with rock-bottom Wolves the only other side with more than 50.

"Not all of that is due to his own faults. The squad remains woefully short of strength in depth in certain areas, and short of experience almost throughout - the starting line-up against Bournemouth was the youngest named in any Premier League match this season.

"Maresca was rightly lauded for his tactics to win the Club World Cup in the summer, but little progress has been made on that front more widely. He has referred to himself as a big-game manager - and victories against Liverpool and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge this season, plus a creditable 10-man draw with Arsenal, are fair testament.

"But this run of seven points from 21 has included a defeat to Leeds and four points dropped against a Bournemouth side winless in nine. It would likely have also counted a loss at Newcastle had Trevoh Chalobah been penalised for what appeared a blatant penalty.

"There have been moments where a connection looked to be building between Maresca and the fanbase. The two trophies last season and the jubilant scenes after the win at Tottenham earlier this season spring to mind.

"But prickly comments in public have not helped create the us-against-the-world mindset these fans have felt under Jose Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel and even Frank Lampard in the last two decades.

"Ultimately, results alone will be what can turn this around for Maresca. That is the cold hard currency which buys coaches time at Chelsea."

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