Frustration is beginning to build rapidly amongst Chelsea fans at the situation they find themselves in at this stage of the season, and the manager isn’t escaping his share of the criticism.
Enzo Maresca enjoyed a sensational start to life as head coach at Stamford Bridge, leading his side into what many called a title race less than two months ago.
However, a nightmare run of form has seen them now drop out of the top four, and up against it to make sure they qualify for Champions League football next season.
John Obi Mikel says Enzo Maresca would be sacked by Roman Abramovich
Maresca is the fourth permanent manager to take the reins at the club since Todd Boehly and co took over, with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino all lasting less than a season in their time at Stamford Bridge.
Managerial changes have been a common theme at the club in modern history though, with the winning mentality of former owner Roman Abramovich keeping the standards high.
One former player who knows about this well is John Obi Mikel, and the club legend believes the recent form overseen by Maresca would have seen him sacked if Abramovich was still running things.
He said on the Obi One Podcast: “That would’ve been a f—— crisis back in our day. [Abramovich’s] helicopter surely would have landed by now and whoever is in charge would’ve been gone. There’s no two ways about it.”
Maresca was handed a long-term deal at Stamford Bridge, while Pochettino’s two-year contract suggested that there was not much of a long-term plan involving the Argentine.
Despite the Blues staring down the barrel of missing out on Champions League football, there is no talk of Maresca losing out on his job at Stamford Bridge.
John Obi Mikel doesn’t want Enzo Maresca sacked
Recent reports have stated that Boehly and Eghbali are confident that Maresca is the right man for the job, and can lead the project forwards.
Mikel made it clear that he did not want to see the current manager sacked, despite pleading for change at the club.
He said: I’m not calling for the sack of Enzo Maresca. My issue is the recruitment process that I’ve been talking about the whole time. It wasn’t good enough.”
The boss will need to turn things around on the pitch and fast though, and the biggest concern at this stage will be about the lack of goals, and chances to score.
He is going to need to find a solution without Nicolas Jackson, who will be missing until April due to injury.
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