Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is facing increased scrutiny following a disappointing December, marked by just one Premier League win and emerging tensions with the club's hierarchy. The Italian's position is precarious as the team sits fifth in the league, with a tough January schedule ahead. Internal issues, including public complaints and strategic disagreements, have compounded the on-pitch struggles.
Chelsea's December unravelled after a promising November, where the team sat third in the Premier League and secured a strong Champions League win over Barcelona. However, the month yielded only one league victory—a 2-0 home win against Everton—leaving Chelsea with two wins, three draws, and three losses across eight fixtures in three competitions. This slump has dropped them to fifth place on 30 points after 19 games, now 15 points behind leaders Arsenal and closer to mid-table than the top spots.
Maresca's woes extend beyond results. After the Everton win, he publicly lamented his "worst 48 hours" since joining, attributing it to "many people," remarks perceived as aimed at the hierarchy. These comments stunned staff and were viewed dimly by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, as well as owner Behdad Eghbali. Despite last season's successes—Champions League qualification, a UEFA Conference League title, and a Club World Cup win—the club plans an end-of-season review to assess Maresca's future.
Behind the scenes, frustrations simmer. Maresca, appointed from Leicester in 2024 for £10m, has focused on coaching a young squad—the youngest in the Premier League—while the hierarchy handles transfers and staff. He has criticized the lack of a central defender signing after Levi Colwill's pre-season ACL injury and urged media to question executives. Other tensions include a blocked book publication, an unauthorized speaking engagement in Italy, an agent switch to Jorge Mendes, and rumors of a Manchester City link, which he denies.
Fans voiced frustration during a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, chanting "You don’t know what you’re doing" after Maresca substituted Cole Palmer. Assistant Willy Caballero defended him, saying, “He’s dealing well because he’s very professional... He loves to train, he loves to coach.”
January looms large with nine games, starting against Manchester City without suspended Moises Caicedo. Fixtures include derbies against Fulham, Crystal Palace, Brentford, and West Ham; an FA Cup tie at Charlton; a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg versus Arsenal; and Champions League matches against Pafos and Napoli. Chelsea's history of poor December form—62 points from 120 over seven seasons—adds context, but results now are essential for Maresca to secure Champions League spots and his job.
