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Maresca picking a fight with fans feels like self-sabotage
The Guardian
|April 15, 2025
Enzo Maresca is naive if he thinks he can win a war of words with the people who pay to watch Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca is naive if he thinks he can win a war of words with the people who pay to watch Chelsea. It is difficult to recall many managers who have come out on top after picking a fight with their own supporters, making it hard to understand why Maresca had a pop at the crowd after Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Ipswich on Sunday.
The Italian's comments about the "environment" at Stamford Bridge being the reason for his team trailing 2-0 against opponents who could be relegated this weekend have gone down as well as could be expected. Fans who already had little time for Maresca have predictably taken offence. All they see is an unpopular manager looking to make excuses. Chelsea are 14th in the Premier League form table since Christmas and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
Maresca lacks clout. Bringing him in for Mauricio Pochettino last summer was a gamble. He is inexperienced and trying to win over fans spoilt by watching sides led by Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte, Thomas Tuchel and José Mourinho win trophy after trophy over the past 20 years.
This story is from the April 15, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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