Even if Chelsea lose their next two matches against Benfica and Liverpool, they will not panic into sacking head coach Enzo Maresca.
Some Blues fans have called for the Italian’s dismissal following the team’s recent poor form, which included a home defeat to Brighton at Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
However, this was only Chelsea’s fifth defeat in 24 official matches – a run dating back to April 17 – with four of those losses coming when the Blues were reduced to 10 men.
Their recent away defeat to Bayern Munich was the only time Chelsea lost with a full 11 vs 11 lineup; their more recent losses to Newcastle United, Flamengo, Manchester United and Brighton were all overshadowed by red cards.
Co-owner Behdad Eghbali, along with sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, walked down the players' tunnel to the dressing room after the Brighton match – a sight witnessed by many fans as they left Stamford Bridge.
For Chelsea’s hierarchy, however, this is routine, and they have consistently done so throughout Maresca’s tenure.
They make a point of doing this after every home game, seeking to connect with the players and often debriefing with the head coach about the match. Yet due to the layout of Stamford Bridge, they have to cross the pitch to get there – meaning they are always visible to everyone whenever they do so.
Chelsea’s objectives for the season remain unchanged, with the club’s leadership targeting a top-four finish in the Premier League. Whether it is fourth, third, second or first, the Blues are aiming for Champions League qualification – a goal Maresca has also explicitly stated.
According to club insiders, the difficulty of Chelsea's start to the season has been somewhat overstated. Having already won two major trophies in his debut season at Chelsea, Maresca still has the full support of the club’s top brass.
