He’s just another idiotic signing like Sancho. He was totally clueless against Benfica. Overall the club is more likely to be relegated if something is not done to fix the sh*t they are in currently” – Dutch football legend Marco van Basten has harshly criticized Chelsea decision to start a player he deems “idiotic” in a recent critique of Enzo Maresca.
He’s just another idiotic signing like Sancho. He was totally clueless against Benfica. Overall the club is more likely to be relegated if something is not done to fix the sh*t they are in currently” – Dutch football legend Marco van Basten has harshly criticized Chelsea decision to start a player he deems “idiotic” in a recent critique of Enzo Maresca.
CHELSEA
He’s just another idiotic signing like Sancho. He was totally clueless against Benfica. Overall the club is more likely to be relegated if something is not done to fix the sh*t they are in currently” – Dutch football legend Marco van Basten has harshly criticized Chelsea decision to start a player he deems “idiotic” in a recent critique of Enzo Maresca.
“JUST ANOTHER IDIOTIC SIGNING?!” – Marco van Basten DESTROYS Chelsea’s Transfer Choice After Benfica Clash, Calls Out Enzo Maresca’s Decision-Making
The storm clouds are gathering over Stamford Bridge once again. After Chelsea’s narrow 1-0 Champions League win over Benfica, Dutch football legend Marco van Basten delivered a scathing verdict that has left the Blues fanbase divided. Despite the three points, van Basten ripped into one of Enzo Maresca’s recent starters, branding him “just another idiotic signing like Sancho” and insisting that Chelsea could spiral into a full-blown disaster if changes aren’t made immediately.
The criticism was as brutal as it was blunt.
> “He was totally clueless against Benfica. Overall the club is more likely to be relegated if something is not done to fix the sht they are in currently,”* van Basten fired.
The Benfica Reality Check
Chelsea may have walked away with a win thanks to a Richard Rios own goal, but the performance did little to inspire confidence. Benfica, under the fiery return of José Mourinho, pressed hard and nearly snatched a point late on. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s much-discussed signing—thrust into the starting lineup by Maresca—struggled badly. Poor positioning, misplaced passes, and nervous touches made him look lost in the intensity of a Champions League night.
Fans who watched the match could not ignore the flaws, and van Basten’s words hit like salt on an open wound.
Van Basten’s Warning
The legendary Dutchman did not mince his words. To him, Chelsea’s problem isn’t just one player—it’s a culture of reckless signings and a lack of foresight.
> “Chelsea keep throwing money around, but they don’t seem to learn. Where is the football intelligence? This player was nowhere near the level needed. If this is the standard, Maresca will have no choice but to drag this team into a relegation fight rather than push for Europe.”
The comparison to Jadon Sancho, a transfer saga that ended in disappointment at Manchester United, is particularly damning. Van Basten’s implication is clear: Chelsea have fallen into the same trap of paying big money for players who cannot deliver.
Maresca Under Fire
Enzo Maresca is only months into his Chelsea reign, but pressure is mounting. He was hired to bring structure, discipline, and identity to a squad that has been bloated and inconsistent for years. Yet, choosing to start a struggling new signing against Benfica has fueled criticism that he is repeating the same mistakes of his predecessors—playing names instead of form.
Van Basten’s words sting even more given the context. Chelsea dominated possession but lacked creativity and cutting edge, with their star-studded lineup producing few clear chances. Without the own goal, it could easily have been another frustrating European night.
Fans React: Harsh but True?
Social media exploded after van Basten’s comments. Many Chelsea fans admitted the legend “said what we’re all thinking,” while others called his words an “overreaction” given the win. Still, the underlying frustration is undeniable. Chelsea have spent over £1 billion in recent transfer windows, but stability and consistency remain elusive.
One fan summed it up:
“We won, but performances like this are why nobody trusts the project. If this is Maresca’s idea of progress, then Van Basten might be right.”
What Next for Chelsea?
The Blues cannot afford to ignore the noise. With more Champions League fixtures looming and Premier League clashes piling up, Maresca must decide whether to double down on his struggling signing or bench him to avoid further backlash.
Van Basten’s warning is a stark reminder: in football, results may hide flaws temporarily, but poor decisions eventually come back to bite. Chelsea may have scraped past Benfica, but unless Maresca fixes the cracks, the Dutch legend’s relegation warning could turn from “harsh criticism” into a grim reality.
