SECOND SEASON SYNDROME

Maresca started well but it is about to get a whole lot tougher

- By John Cross

ENZO MARESCA is facing a huge second season at Chelsea.

The expectation levels are so high at Stamford Bridge that internally Maresca’s first year in charge is still only seen as being “on par”.

Chelsea won a European trophy with the Conference League success, qualified for the Champions League and, arguably most impressively of all, provided a sense of calm among the chaos.

They would never admit it, but working for a club that has spent more than £1billion in the era of joint owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali takes a clear, calm head.

It is still regarded as something of a circus by people looking in from the outside and that is why Maresca’s first 12 months deserve respect.

But, realistically, it is actually the next 12 upon which he will be judged.

When Maresca took charge, the club were open about his being a two-year season, with the Club World Cup sandwiched in the middle.

It is difficult to plan and prepare when you do not know your calendar, dates and what the summer and beyond will even look like.