Chelsea’s stance on dismissing Enzo Maresca revealed following humiliating draw with Ipswich Town.

Chelsea fans voiced their frustration as the team dropped more crucial points in their pursuit of Champions League qualification for next season.

 

The Blues drew 2-2 with Ipswich Town, a side battling relegation, and for much of the match, it appeared Chelsea were heading for a loss.

 

Enzo Maresca was the main target of criticism from fans present at Stamford Bridge. Supporters were well aware that failing to secure a win would see their team slip out of the top Champions League spots.

 

Maresca, however, suggested that the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge contributed to their slow start—a comment that could potentially strain his relationship with the fanbase.

 

Few players earned praise after the match, although Maresca did commend Jadon Sancho, who came off the bench to score and secure the draw.

 

Despite the unrest among fans—especially given the team’s title challenge just four months ago—Chelsea’s hierarchy appears committed to sticking with Maresca for now. According to Mail Online, his job remains safe.

 

Co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are eager to complete a season without another managerial change, having already parted ways with Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino in recent seasons.

 

Back in September, it was reported that the baseline goal for Maresca this season was a top-four finish—enough to secure Champions League qualification. That target now seems reachable through a top-five spot, due to changes in UEFA’s allocation.

 

The Conference League is also viewed as a valuable trophy, as winning it would complete Chelsea’s collection of European honors. However, many fans expected much more this season, given the squad’s strength.

 

There was hope that returning key attackers from injury would spark a turnaround in form and solidify their Champions League position. Chief among those was Nicolas Jackson, who had been sidelined since sustaining an injury on transfer deadline day in winter.

 

While Jackson’s return has added energy to Chelsea’s forward line, his form in front of goal has been poor. He’s yet to score in 2025 and missed several clear chances during the Ipswich game.

 

In fact, he hit the post early in the match and had five shots overall, none of which were on target. According to WhoScored, this marks the highest number of attempts without a single shot on target by any Premier League player this season.

 

Chelsea’s attacking woes have been compounded by Cole Palmer’s dip in form—it’s now 14 games since he last scored in any competition.

 

The club appears to be actively seeking reinforcements up front. Though they hoped to evaluate Liam Delap more during their recent fixture, he was sidelined with a rib issue and only featured briefly.

 

Still, fans were encouraged by Delap’s short cameo. Chelsea are reportedly considering multiple striker options ahead of the summer window, with names like Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Sesko frequently mentioned.

 

What’s become increasingly evident this season is Chelsea’s need for a consistent goal-scorer—something Jackson has yet to deliver in pressure moments.