Chelsea Director Jonathan Goldstein Backs Enzo Maresca, Insists Manager is ‘100%’ Safe

Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein has publicly supported manager Enzo Maresca, stating that the Italian coach is “100%” safe from being sacked this season despite the team’s recent dip in form. Maresca, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City, enjoyed a strong start to his tenure, with the Blues competing alongside Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League title race leading up to the Christmas period.

However, since their victory against Brentford on December 15, Chelsea have struggled, winning just two of their subsequent nine league matches. The team’s most recent defeat, a resounding 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, has heightened concerns about their performance. As a result, Chelsea have slipped to sixth place in the table, outside of the Champions League qualification spots.

Despite the club’s history of quickly parting ways with underperforming managers, Goldstein, a member of the BlueCo consortium that acquired Chelsea in 2022, has become the first board member to openly back Maresca. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Goldstein praised the Italian manager, saying, “He’s doing a great job. Chelsea started the season very well. The past six weeks have been, you know, finding their feet a little bit more. But Enzo has clearly done a great job in bringing the team together, bringing the talent through.”

When asked if Maresca would remain in his position for the remainder of the season, Goldstein responded with a resounding “100%,” emphasizing the club’s commitment to the manager despite the recent challenges.

Earlier in the campaign, during the club’s impressive start, Maresca had maintained that Chelsea were not yet ready to mount a serious title challenge and were instead focused on securing a top-four finish.

Chelsea’s next match is against Aston Villa on Saturday, a crucial fixture that could significantly impact their hopes of qualifying for European football next season…