Chelsea’s ownership believe Enzo Maresca can become one of the “very best” managers in the industry according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Blues appointed the 45-year-old as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor last summer, with the Italian signing a five year deal after guiding Leicester City to the Championship title.
Maresca made a brilliant start to life at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues second at Christmas, although since then things have taken a dip.
Chelsea ownership make bold Maresca prediction
After constantly playing down that Chelsea were in the title race, the Blues are now on a run of three wins in their last 11 league games.
Maresca’s men recorded a much needed victory against Southampton last time out, and currently sit fifth in the league.
The race for the Champions League is so tight, and whilst the Blues are only two points off third, they are also only four points ahead of tenth.
Maresca has stated the target is Champions League qualification, despite earlier in the campaign insisting it wasn’t and the Blues are going to need to put a run of form together over the last 11 games.
There’s been talk of Maresca being under pressure, with Paul Merson sensationally claiming he’d be sacked if he didn’t take maximum points from games against Southampton and Leicester.
However, he’s been publicly backed by Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein, and according to Romano it appears whatever happens Maresca will be in the dug out next season, and the ownership have very high hopes for the former Leicester boss.
“Owners, directors and players too, are believed to trust the manager, see the potential for Chelsea’s future but also for Maresca to improve as a coach and become one of the very best in the industry,” he wrote in his Give Me Sport column.
This may well be the case, but football is a results based business and Maresca will be under no illusion he needs to deliver success to Stamford Bridge if he’s going to remain in charge for the long term.
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