“I don’t think our manager is really interested in keeping his job because of the decision that he made in our Match against Legia Warsaw. The decision almost cost us our semi final spot” – This is according to Cole Palmer as he claims that Enzo Maresca may be undermining his own progress at Chelsea, and one particular decision he made during the match against Legia Warsaw left him and his teammates baffled.

Chelsea fans are growing increasingly frustrated with Enzo Maresca, and many feel the Italian manager has only himself to blame.

Recent performances have left much to be desired, with Chelsea suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night. Despite having previously beaten the Polish side 3-0 away, and advancing to the semi-finals, the overall showing has not met expectations for a club of Chelsea’s stature.

In the Premier League, results haven’t been much better. A 2-2 draw with Ipswich and a goalless stalemate against Brentford have further dented hopes of qualifying for the Champions League — a minimum goal for the Blues. While progression in Europe is commendable, domestic inconsistency is raising serious concerns.

One of the biggest points of criticism has been Maresca’s tactical choices. His decision to play Reece James — widely regarded as one of the league’s best right-backs — in central midfield baffled many. To make matters worse, Malo Gusto, another natural right-back, was also used in a midfield role during the same game. Playing two defenders centrally is unconventional and, to many fans, unjustifiable.

Against Ipswich, Maresca chose to start Trevoh Chalobah at right-back, even though James, Gusto, and Josh Acheampong were all fit and available. Supporters are questioning these decisions, viewing them as signs of poor judgment, if not outright managerial self-sabotage.

Although Maresca reportedly retains the support of co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, continued underperformance and puzzling tactics are likely to test that faith. With the summer transfer window approaching — and Maresca pushing for the signing of Liam Delap — some fans are wondering whether he’ll still be in charge by the time new players arrive.