Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein has issued a rare statement concerning the future of head coach Enzo Maresca following the Blues’ poor run of form.
Maresca’s position has been placed under the spotlight following a run of just two wins from nine Premier League games, which has seen them fall from second to sixth in the table.
The Blues have also been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, leaving the UEFA Conference League as their only realistic path towards winning a trophy.
However, their participation in the Champions League next season is under threat with Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brighton all competing for one of the remaining spots – with Liverpool and Arsenal edging closer to guaranteeing their places.
The Italian coach insisted he has not been told he must secure qualification for next season’s Champions League. And Goldstein appeared to suggest that is the case by confirming the 45-year-old would « 100 per cent » be in charge until the end of the season.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, Goldstein said of Maresca: “He’s doing a great job.
« Chelsea started the season very well. The past six weeks have been [about], 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 what the chances were of Maresca remaining in charge for the remainder of the season, he added: “One hundred per cent.”
Goldstein sits as a director on the Chelsea board and is part of the BlueCo consortium that bought Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022, along with co-controlling owner Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter, and Hansjorg Wyss.
The British businessman was recently spotted at Stamford Bridge sitting alongside Boehly in the directors’ box for their convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa back in December, one of their most impressive performances of the season.
It is a rare occurrence for a member of the Chelsea board to make a public statement or give reassurance to a manager without speaking through the club’s communication channels. He was speaking in his capacity as chief executive of Cain International, a partnership between his and Boehly’s firm Eldridge Enterprises.
Boehly also tends to speak at organised Q&A sessions in his native United States rather than address the supporters, which is a notable grievance amongst frustrated fans, who want more communication from Boehly and Clearlake.
While the supporters are starting to lose patience with Maresca, the board’s backing for Maresca appears to be unanimous after handing the former Leicester boss a five-year contract in July.
His predecessor Mauricio Pochettino was only given a two-year deal with the option of a third year. However, Graham Potter was also appointed on a five-year contract, only for the ex-Seagulls boss to be brutally sacked seven months into his Stamford Bridge reign.
But it appears that barring a remarkable collapse in the final stages of the season, Maresca will be given time to continue with his project in west London.
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