Chelsea Chaos: Maresca Could Be Dismissed Within 48 Hours After Poor Run

‎Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could reportedly be dismissed within the opening days of 2026, with Sky Sports claiming the Blues hierarchy are preparing to make a major decision on his future after a bleak spell of form. The Italian coach is under intense scrutiny after Chelsea managed just one win from their last seven Premier League matches, a 2-0 victory over Everton that came amid what Maresca described as his “worst 48 hours” since joining the club.

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Chelsea are weighing up a dramatic New Year’s Day decision as Enzo Maresca faces the sack within 48 hours following a dismal run of results, strained relations, and mounting pressure at Stamford Bridge.

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‎Pressure intensifies after Chelsea’s dismal December

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‎According to a fresh Sky Sports report, Chelsea are seriously considering parting ways with Maresca following a miserable December that saw the club fall out of the title race and slip to fifth place in the league standings, now sitting 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

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‎The west London side suffered defeats to Leeds United in the Premier League and Atalanta in the Champions League earlier in the month. In Europe, Chelsea currently sit 13th in the table, leaving them realistically needing victories over Pafos and Napoli in their final two league-phase fixtures to keep hopes of automatic qualification for the last 16 alive.

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‎December also brought draws against Bournemouth twice and Newcastle United, while a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last Saturday highlighted ongoing issues. That defeat meant Chelsea have now dropped 13 points from winning positions in the league this season, with six of those squandered at Stamford Bridge.

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‎Cup progress offers little relief

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‎Maresca did guide Chelsea into the Carabao Cup semi-finals, where they are set to face Arsenal over two legs next month. However, their 3-1 quarter-final win over League One leaders Cardiff City was widely seen as the minimum expectation rather than a statement of recovery.

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‎Cryptic remarks raise eyebrows after Everton win

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‎Chelsea’s only other win in December came against Everton, but even that result was overshadowed by Maresca’s post-match comments. The 45-year-old revealed that the build-up to the match represented his “worst 48 hours” at the club since his appointment in June 2024.

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‎When pressed on who he felt had not supported him, Maresca insisted he “loves” the Chelsea supporters. This response fuelled speculation that his comments were instead aimed at the club’s ownership, led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, fronted by Behdad Eghbali.

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‎Speaking after the match, Maresca said:

‎“This is the reason why I praise the players because with so many problems they are doing very well after a complicated week. Since I joined the club the last 48 hours has been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn’t support us. So very happy for Malo (Gusto) in that moment, that the effort from Malo and the rest showed that they are all there and want to help this club.”

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‎He later added:

‎“Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn’t support me and the team. In general. I love the fans, and I am very happy with the fans.”

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‎Chelsea hierarchy close to decisive move

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‎Following those comments and Chelsea’s ongoing struggles, Sky Sports report that Maresca is now “on the brink,” with a final decision on his future expected imminently.

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‎The report adds that there is no certainty Maresca will be in the dugout for Sunday’s Premier League clash away at Manchester City, citing a breakdown in relations with the club. It is also claimed that Maresca himself has been reflecting on his position, amid a sense that the situation may have become untenable.

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‎Maresca is under contract until the summer of 2029, with the club holding an option to extend by a further year. Key developments at Stamford Bridge are expected on Thursday and Friday, with tensions between the manager and senior figures said to date back to this point last year. His absence from a post-match press conference on Tuesday night, officially blamed on illness, was also highlighted as another sign of behind-the-scenes issues.

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‎Tough fixtures ahead for struggling Blues

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‎Chelsea were last held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth and will begin 2026 with a daunting away trip to Manchester City on Sunday. Influential midfielder Moises Caicedo will miss that match after accumulating too many yellow cards.

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‎The Blues then turn their attention to the FA Cup, starting with an away tie against Championship strugglers Charlton Athletic on Saturday, 10 January, before hosting Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final four days later.

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‎Caicedo is also suspended for that Arsenal clash, having collected bookings in earlier Carabao Cup wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City. The second leg of the semi-final will be played at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, 3 February.

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‎Champions League and league challenges continue

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‎Chelsea’s European commitments resume on Wednesday, 21 January, when they host Cypriot side Pafos in the Champions League. A week later, they will conclude the league phase with an away trip to Napoli, managed by former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

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‎The Blues currently sit 13th in the Champions League standings, two points outside the top eight that secure automatic qualification for the last 16. Finishing between ninth and 24th would instead mean a two-legged knockout tie.

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‎Domestically, an out-of-form Chelsea also face Premier League matches against Fulham (away, Wednesday 7 January), Brentford (home, Saturday 17 January), and Crystal Palace (away, Sunday 25 January) later in the month.

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‎Maresca’s past success and Chelsea’s recent history

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‎Maresca was appointed Chelsea head coach on a five-year deal after leading Leicester City to Premier League promotion in the 2023–24 season. He replaced Mauricio Pochettino, who departed Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after just one year in charge.

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‎In his first full campaign with Chelsea, Maresca delivered notable success, guiding the club to victory in both the Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea also finished fourth in the Premier League, securing qualification for the current Champions League season.

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‎However, Chelsea’s ownership has shown a willingness to make swift managerial changes in the past. Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital dismissed Thomas Tuchel in September 2022, appointed Graham Potter, and then sacked the former Brighton boss less than seven months later in April 2023.