Enzo Maresca enjoyed a positive first season since joining Chelsea but the Italian has been warned that he might find his position under question should he not secure a trophy this season
Chelsea icon Joe Cole believes Enzo Maresca could soon be under pressure from Blues owners should the Italian not put together a title challenge this season. The former Manchester City coach only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer and enjoyed a productive debut campaign.
He lifted the Conference League title, secured a top four position and also won the Club World Cup. But Cole believes that might not be enough for the club’s owners this season.
Speaking to Paddy Power, he said: “This is season four under this ownership. There are two trophies, albeit new trophies that don’t carry the same weight as a Premier League, an FA Cup, a Champions League, or even a League Cup.
“But they have delivered trophies, and they’ve restructured the whole club financially. This season, the expectation has to be for Chelsea to comfortably get into the Champions League position and mount a challenge in the league.
“I don’t think the squad’s strong enough to compete with Arsenal. I’m happy to go on record saying that now, they won’t win the league.
“Chelsea needs to be comfortably in the Champions League and closer to the top of the league than they were last year for this season to be considered a success. And next season, they have to be winning the big trophies, because that would be five seasons into this project.
“You have to go with the owners, this is what they are, this is the restructuring of the club. Whether you like it or not, this is where it is at.
“I try and explain it with my best knowledge of how football clubs work, reading between the lines, because obviously the owners can’t come out and go, ‘Listen, we’re not going gung-ho like we did before, trying to win these big trophies, because we’ve got to fit within a financial model.’
“They’re not going to say that, because it’s not a good soundbite. From what I understand, that’s what they’ve had to do, and the club wasn’t in a great position financially, so they’ve had to be a bit more clever with how they operate.”
What have you made to Chelsea's start to the season? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Chelsea have had a mixed start to the season so far. The Blues have won four of their opening nine games, leaving them ninth in the table ahead of this weekend’s clash with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
They have however managed to reach the quarter finals of the League Cup and enjoyed a positive start to their Champions League campaign.
Sudcilnou
0
we need to have strong defense not tosin and chalabah
pieackopty
0
Tosin is free agent,we need a defender who can be bought at higher price so that he works for the club, coming to goalkeeper Sanchez is useless compared to petrovic then as a manager you come in and sell good product and remain with the worst.please think before you act we need silver and petrovic back home...
fofana😊🤣🤣🤣
Kedclmprsz
3
Tosin is free agent,we need a defender who can be bought at higher price so that he works for the club, coming to goalkeeper Sanchez is useless compared to petrovic then as a manager you come in and sell good product and remain with the worst.please think before you act we need silver and petrovic back home...
Bakdekmpst
0
hi
Bakdekmpst
3
please, we need experience players. These guys is lacking Experience,
luuadopsu
1
well i have read all your comment and most don't even make sense started from who is asking for new coach. first of all changing of coach everytime is never good for the players because is like factory reset. some will adapt quickly to the new tactics while some will struggle to adapt and some players that as been playing regularly may be out of the team maybe he did not suet the new manager tactics. again this team need time to get mature and u can see that in their play. maresca is doing well with the teenagers. apart from caicedo,palmer,Enzo,James,cucu.. the rest are all average players that need time to develop non of Chelsea players is world class well maybe James if is not injured, caicedo and palmer. and you can't win league with those teenagers they need to be given time for like 2 more season then we can talk about winning EPL and champions league.
you very right bro
vuaabdipu
0
They have an easy month compared to Tottenham's and Man City's months
Sasdilmy
0
I don't think Enzo can achieve the Standard set for him in as much as many of his Players are NOT Disciplined at all by collecting Red Cards recklessly. Also with his POROUS defence , I don't see his team making Top 4 at the end of the season.
why you the talk like this, it's Maresca that told the players to collect red card or what are you trying to say and besides why Chelsea owner didn't signed experience defender for him?
Sasdilmy
1
i agree with you my legend Ashley Cole Chelsea should sign experience defender and see what he can do before talking about sacking please
muhaikprtu
1
Chelsea lucky of defenders and set pieces are poor finishing
mimbeikpz
0
Change the coach. He is not the right manager for us and he need to be sacked.
you're just a useless donkey high as a kite out there,,you know nothin nothing about football, shut your stupid mouth,,who is that manager can win a football match with the current defender chelsea has right now if Maresca is not the right man?
Kazmed
2
Enzo Fernández is one of our problem but we are not ready for the conversation, if we get new 2 good defender and we still leak goals that’s when this conversation will make sense, Enzo is not effective In that midfield but he’s effective in box 18 which is not what we need him for, he should be controlling the tempo of the game and dictate it, not ghosting, he ghost without pressure talkless of under pressure, he use to fold a lot, honest review he’s so mid player at finest
Elishaphiri
2
The best way is to have defenders then it's well worth it for our future club Maresca has that potential for the blues then he needs to maintain the arguments to avoid Red cards then he can archive the trophy 🏆
KehindeSeun
0
You have a complete sense of humour 🌷🙌
thanks bro
KehindeSeun
0
Completely right I thought the Ange situation would make people aware of the struggle in finding new management that fits the play style the players already know and are on track with the board and their recruitment and please stop mentioning Fabregas we took a manager out from the championship and he won two trophies for us and you want to upgrade by doing that all over again
some of our fan's will still not understand it
Boi-Shapi
0
Just get him out from the team.Hes the worst Chelsea coach I have seen.
No dey use that sense to cross road
vadcikmuy
1
He lacks technical and tactical expertise. our defense is too weak to compete for league title
davetheeone
0
this couch lacks technical approach facing technical opponents, he is not at CHELSEA'S Level!
please tell us who is
davetheeone
1
well i have read all your comment and most don't even make sense started from who is asking for new coach. first of all changing of coach everytime is never good for the players because is like factory reset. some will adapt quickly to the new tactics while some will struggle to adapt and some players that as been playing regularly may be out of the team maybe he did not suet the new manager tactics. again this team need time to get mature and u can see that in their play. maresca is doing well with the teenagers. apart from caicedo,palmer,Enzo,James,cucu.. the rest are all average players that need time to develop non of Chelsea players is world class well maybe James if is not injured, caicedo and palmer. and you can't win league with those teenagers they need to be given time for like 2 more season then we can talk about winning EPL and champions league.
Completely right I thought the Ange situation would make people aware of the struggle in finding new management that fits the play style the players already know and are on track with the board and their recruitment and please stop mentioning Fabregas we took a manager out from the championship and he won two trophies for us and you want to upgrade by doing that all over again
Gbolahan01
0
Just get him out from the team.Hes the worst Chelsea coach I have seen.
You're a bad fan
Gbolahan01
2
well i have read all your comment and most don't even make sense started from who is asking for new coach. first of all changing of coach everytime is never good for the players because is like factory reset. some will adapt quickly to the new tactics while some will struggle to adapt and some players that as been playing regularly may be out of the team maybe he did not suet the new manager tactics. again this team need time to get mature and u can see that in their play. maresca is doing well with the teenagers. apart from caicedo,palmer,Enzo,James,cucu.. the rest are all average players that need time to develop non of Chelsea players is world class well maybe James if is not injured, caicedo and palmer. and you can't win league with those teenagers they need to be given time for like 2 more season then we can talk about winning EPL and champions league.
You have a complete sense of humour 🌷🙌
Wilmor
0
Just get him out from the team.Hes the worst Chelsea coach I have seen.
do you watch ⚽?
Rotciknopt
0
I think what important there is to look for defensive players then for the coach the no problem and he needs to teach them discipline not correcting red cards each
KehindeSeun
4
well i have read all your comment and most don't even make sense started from who is asking for new coach. first of all changing of coach everytime is never good for the players because is like factory reset. some will adapt quickly to the new tactics while some will struggle to adapt and some players that as been playing regularly may be out of the team maybe he did not suet the new manager tactics. again this team need time to get mature and u can see that in their play. maresca is doing well with the teenagers. apart from caicedo,palmer,Enzo,James,cucu.. the rest are all average players that need time to develop non of Chelsea players is world class well maybe James if is not injured, caicedo and palmer. and you can't win league with those teenagers they need to be given time for like 2 more season then we can talk about winning EPL and champions league.
KehindeSeun
0
Enzo Maresca is not the right Man for Chelsea
And who is the right man
KehindeSeun
0
this couch lacks technical approach facing technical opponents, he is not at CHELSEA'S Level!
and who is Chelsea level ??
KehindeSeun
0
Just get him out from the team.Hes the worst Chelsea coach I have seen.
hmm with two trophies. you are the worst person I ever seen
KehindeSeun
0
Change the coach. He is not the right manager for us and he need to be sacked.
who is the next coach
KehindeSeun
0
what Chelsea need is quality defenders and goalkeeper Chelsea defenders are too lazy that they can't fight harder to opponent they love food more than training order thing Chelsea need is quality goalkeeper that fight much. that is hunger to keep not Sanchez that is too lazy for ball everytime you keep using Sanchez is like he has giving you her girlfriend
who did he want to use ??
KehindeSeun
0
don't mind the idiots I think they asked him to sign Experience defender and he refused and now he is now regretting money that not belong to you
he refused to sign experience players ??? my bro listen to news very well before you come here to talk because he actually ask for CB but the board told him to manage what he has so that is not his fault.
Jaolmnosyz
2
Just get him out from the team.Hes the worst Chelsea coach I have seen.
no dey talk nonsense for here bro
lukblstz
2
I don't think Enzo can achieve the Standard set for him in as much as many of his Players are NOT Disciplined at all by collecting Red Cards recklessly. Also with his POROUS defence , I don't see his team making Top 4 at the end of the season.
Dukbiknotu
3
0😡😡😡
tepcilns
3
Just get him out from the team.Hes the worst Chelsea coach I have seen.
Aseeco
0
Change the coach. He is not the right manager for us and he need to be sacked.
badbimrz
2
don't mind the idiots I think they asked him to sign Experience defender and he refused and now he is now regretting money that not belong to you
kaoarsuz
3
what Chelsea need is quality defenders and goalkeeper Chelsea defenders are too lazy that they can't fight harder to opponent they love food more than training order thing Chelsea need is quality goalkeeper that fight much. that is hunger to keep not Sanchez that is too lazy for ball everytime you keep using Sanchez is like he has giving you her girlfriend
Hascdkoptz
2
after all bigmoney for signing and still can made up your best out , am afraid.
Vabacempuz
1
Chelsea need to introduce new system to protect seniors players .up coming coaches they don't have respect for seniors players..rehim Sterling. azpilicueta. garry gahil..there last game conte he didn't give him to players more minutes..meresca bought neto then he took Sterling number..and he played multiple games no goals
Yeydmosuy
3
Enzo his the right man
sepabdeiou
3
Get a great goalkeeper and centre backs and other great midfielders if you want Chelsea to go competitive
diwbkpyz
3
Chelsea need a experience center back at the right side Tosin and Chalobah is not doing good.
Yetaelmpyz
4
this couch lacks technical approach facing technical opponents, he is not at CHELSEA'S Level!
Jabdinoryz
2
get experience defenders by January transfer window and get results
Iffy106
4
Enzo Maresca is not the right Man for Chelsea