Enzo Maresca Receives Sack Verdict As Blues Boss Points Blame After Qarabag Defeat
Chelsea’s season has taken a turn for the worse after a disheartening loss to Qarabag. A 2-2 draw in Azerbaijan on Wednesday night puts the Blues in a dangerous position in the Champions League, sitting 12th in the table ahead of a difficult match against Barcelona later this month.
Things aren’t much better in Premier League. Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham was well-deserved, but after dropping points in five of their first ten games, Enzo Maresca’s team is battling to keep up with title contenders Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Maresca made seven changes to his lineup for the trip to Qarabag in order to rest some of his tired players. However, his rotation plans suddenly unraveled. Injuries, including a blow to Romeo Lavia just eight minutes in, and a 2-1 halftime deficit prompted him to rely on his key players quicker than expected.
Goals by Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho indicate that Chelsea is improving in wide areas, but they did little to disguise an otherwise disjointed display, particularly against a side Chelsea defeated 10-0 on aggregate in 2017/18.
As the pressure returns on Maresca’s shoulders, the Italian faces a critical assignment in regaining control of the ship ahead of Saturday’s match against Wolves. Mirror Football takes through the most recent Chelsea-related headlines.
Maresca sack verdict
Despite Chelsea’s struggles this season, Maresca’s employment is not thought to be under immediate jeopardy. The club’s hierarchy continues to support the Italian, believing that he can lead the Blues back into the top four.
Last month, reports stated Chelsea had selected Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as a potential successor, although insiders say no formal preparations to replace Maresca are being explored at this time.
Within the club, there is widespread recognition that injuries have played a significant influence in the team’s lackluster performance. Cole Palmer, for example, hasn’t played since September due to a lack of conditioning when the season began. Levi Colwill’s absence has also been felt at the defense, and Liam Delap’s injury has left Chelsea with few attacking options.