Chelsea are prepared to stand by manager Enzo Maresca even if the Blues fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League, a report has claimed.
The Blues enjoyed a strong start to the season, but a dramatic drop in performance has seen Chelsea shift from being dark horse title contenders to vying for a top-five finish. Maresca’s team still holds their fate in their own hands but faces a challenging season finale against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, alongside the Conference League final showdown with Real Betis.
Throughout 2025, some supporters have turned against Maresca, and rumors have circulated that the Italian coach has sparked differing opinions among Chelsea’s higher-ups. However, The Telegraph affirms that he will continue to lead the team into the 2025/26 season at least.
Maresca is under a five-year contract, with the clear intent from the outset to afford him at least two seasons before initiating a formal assessment of his performance.
While Chelsea officials would obviously prefer to see this season end with Champions League qualification and success in the Conference League, neither accomplishment is viewed as necessary for Maresca to keep his job.
There is said to be plenty of interest in Maresca’s services from both the Premier League and mainland Europe – Roma have recently been named as suitors by reports elsewhere – but Chelsea do not want to lose the 45-year-old at this stage.
An end-of-season review will still see Chelsea evaluate this season’s performance and identify areas of concern for the summer transfer window, but Maresca’s future will not feature prominently in talks between high-ranking officials.
It is believed those in charge have been impressed by what they perceive as progress on the pitch, even though Chelsea could still end up in sixth place for the second consecutive season. Maresca has won many in the boardroom over with his playing style and statistics which would suggest further steps forward can be made next season.
