Enzo Maresca has asked Chelsea fans to stay patient and continue supporting the club despite a rough patch that’s threatening their Champions League hopes for a third year in a row. Following a frustrating 2-2 draw at home against a struggling Ipswich side, Chelsea dropped to sixth in the Premier League. Only a top-five finish will secure a Champions League spot, making the situation more tense.
The team’s recent form has been disappointing, managing just five wins from their last sixteen league matches. That poor run has seen them slide down the table, even after starting strong under Maresca’s leadership. Frustration among fans at Stamford Bridge has been growing, especially with the team’s slow, possession-focused style of play. That frustration appeared to spill over during the Ipswich game, with Maresca hinting that fan pressure may have influenced a poor goal-kick decision by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez—an error that led to Ipswich’s second goal.
Despite the criticism, Maresca insists progress is being made. Chelsea ended last season in sixth place and finished 12th the season before. He pointed out that for most of this season, the team had remained in the top four, which he sees as a clear sign of improvement. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s UEFA Conference League quarter-final second leg against Legia Warsaw, the Italian manager urged fans to look at the bigger picture.
He acknowledged that the team still has a long way to go to compete for major honours like the Premier League and Champions League. However, he stressed that the improvements are real and visible in the numbers, even if the current position isn’t good enough. Maresca said the squad is determined to finish strong and get back into the top five.
With Chelsea holding a comfortable 3-0 lead going into the return leg against Legia Warsaw, Maresca is expected to rotate his squad heavily. The priority is likely to shift towards Sunday’s important league match against Fulham, where Chelsea will look to get back on track and keep their Champions League hopes alive.
