Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insists he still has the full support of the club’s owners, despite growing frustration from the fanbase. The Blues’ 2-1 defeat to Legia Warsaw in the second leg of the Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday was overshadowed by boos from the home crowd, even as Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals.
In addition to the European setback, Chelsea have fallen to sixth in the Premier League after winning just five of their last 16 matches. When asked about his backing from the club’s hierarchy, Maresca responded confidently, “Absolutely yes, no doubt.” Despite Chelsea’s recent struggles, he pointed to the club’s long tenure in a Champions League spot and their progression to the European semi-finals as evidence that the current approach is working. “Why change anything now?” he asked. “We’ve had setbacks, but these challenges make us stronger for the future.”
Captain Reece James, reflecting on Chelsea’s performance, admitted the team had “disrespected” the Conference League, especially after their dominant 3-0 win in the first leg. Maresca agreed, acknowledging the team’s attempt to manage the game poorly after the strong first-leg result. “Probably he’s right in what he said. He’s giving us a reality check,” said Maresca.
Earlier this season, Maresca had criticized James for a lack of leadership, but now he’s praising the England right-back for stepping up. “My target was to get more out of him, and he’s now doing well in terms of leadership,” said Maresca. “When you don’t have a clear leader, you have to build them. Reece is doing that now, and we have two or three players helping the team in the same way.”
