Enzo Maresca is safe for now but is at risk of losing his job as Chelsea head coach if he does not fix their form, following a run of one win in seven in the Premier League.
In front of the watching hierarchy at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, the Blues were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth, with Maresca booed by the fans for substituting Cole Palmer after 63 minutes. Some also sang: ‘You don’t know what you’re doing.’
Maresca’s superiors, including co-owner Behdad Eghbali, walked down the tunnel as usual after full-time.
Maresca then withdrew from conducting media interviews after telling aides that he felt too unwell to speak.
While Chelsea hope they can wait until this summer’s planned review – which was always scheduled to happen after two years of having the Italian in charge to gauge progress – it is understood they would be prepared to act sooner if necessary.
It is felt the team should be doing better than what they have been, with it believed they have enough talent in their squad to secure their target of a top-four finish, but the home draw with Bournemouth was yet another disappointing outcome.
Chelsea led in that game, but have now dropped 15 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season – the most of any side.
Their struggling run has seen them go from being in the title conversation to now sitting fifth, and closer to Nottingham Forest in 17th than Arsenal in first.
January will be a hectic month for Chelsea with nine games pencilled in, starting this Sunday with a trip to Manchester City.
Maresca has been linked with a move to City should Pep Guardiola leave this summer, and that news came after he blindsided his bosses with his ‘worst 48 hours’ outburst previously, plus his refusal to explain the meaning behind them.
Chelsea backed Maresca last winter when his side suffered a similar frustrating dip in form.
But his cryptic comments in press conferences have added to the confusion behind the scenes this time around.
