Enzo Maresca’s previous comments suggest key Chelsea player is about to be dropped after draw vs Ipswich Town

Add as preferred source on Google

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will be feeling the pressure after his side dropped more points in the race to finish in the Champions League places this season.

The Blues dropped to sixth in the table following a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town in a season where five Premier League sides will qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	32	17	6	9	51	38	13	57
4	NewcastleNewcastle	31	17	5	9	56	40	16	56
5	Man CityManchester City	32	16	7	9	62	42	20	55
6	ChelseaChelsea	32	15	9	8	56	39	17	54
7	Aston VillaAston Villa	32	15	9	8	49	46	3	54
8	FulhamFulham	31	13	9	9	47	42	5	48

Chelsea fans were sending criticism at Maresca directly following a first half where they were two goals down to a side who are about to be relegated back to the Championship.

This didn’t seem to go down too well with the manager, as Maresca risked the wrath of Blues supporters by blaming the envitonment created inside Stamford Bridge for their poor result.

The boss also pointed the finger at Enzo Fernandez and Robert Sanchez for criticism too after their abandoning of the plan to play short saw their opponents able to score two breakaway goals.

Enzo Maresca’s previous comments suggest Robert Sanchez will now be dropped

The latter has been the subject of much criticism this season for his performances, with his ability to play out from the back something which is of serious concern.

Nevertheless, this has been the message of the manager throughout the campaign. He even warned before the season began that they would concede goals from playing out from the back.

As fans showed their discomfort at this during a win over Southampton back in February, Maresca defended goalkeeper on that day, Filip Jorgensen, stating that he has given the goalkeepers an ultamatum when it comes to how they should be playing.

He told BBC Sport: “My message to Filip was if you play a long ball, I will change you – but it is difficult for Filip or Robert when he is playing.

“It is difficult for all the keepers, but they should just follow the plan.”

Sanchez ignores Maresca’s gameplan vs Ipswich

Sanchez only attempted 24 passes against Ipswich, with nearly half of those being attempted long balls which were mostly inaccurate.

Given how much importance Maresca has placed on short, patient passing from the back, the manager should be dropping the Spaniard if he wants to stick to his word.

Jorgensen has been reduced back to Conference League action in recent weeks after failing his audition to become a starter, and while the goalkeeper position will be under review this summer, there could be a change on the horizon in the position at a crucial stage of the season.