Jeff Stelling declares Enzo Maresca is under 'pressure' as Chelsea head coach
Maresca has worked miracles since replacing Mauricio Pochettino last year, helping the Blues win the Conference League and Club World Cup.
The Italian boss also guided Chelsea to a fourth-place Premier League finish last season, with the west London club making a return to the Champions League after they ended up 12th and sixth in 2023 and 2024.
But football pundit Stelling has fired a massive warning to Maresca if Chelsea suffer a poor start to the 2025-26 campaign.
In a talkSPORT YouTube video titled 'Maresca and Amorim are in BIG DANGER of getting sacked if they have POOR starts, claim Jeff & Gabby!', Stelling said: 'You might not agree with this – and sorry Chelsea fans.
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'Club World Cup winners and spending a fortune, Enzo Maresca needs to deliver. He's now under pressure because there's expectation on him.
'They have four London derbies in their first four games and then Manchester United away, Brighton at home, Liverpool at home and Nottingham Forest away. August 17 – Crystal Palace (H)
August 22 – West Ham (A)
August 30 – Fulham (H)
September 13 Brentford (A)
September 20 – Manchester United (A)
September 27 – Brighton (H)
October 4 – Liverpool (H)
October 18 – Nottingham Forest (A)
'It's a tough, tough start and they've not had much of a break [over the summer].
'If they start poorly, I think people will be saying, 'We expect more than that' – because people do expect more of Chelsea now.
'As Club World Cup winners, going out there and doing brilliantly… Chelsea will be expected to produce in the Premier League and so will Maresca.
'I'm not saying he's going to be sacked after eight games and in actual fact they might have a terrific start.
'They could win them all – but if they don't – I'm just saying he'd be under pressure.'
Jamie Gittens – Dortmund, £51.5m
Joao Pedro – Brighton, £60m
Liam Delap – Ipswich, £30m
Estevao Willian – Palmeiras, £29.1m
Dario Essugo – Sporting, £18.5m
Mamadou Sarr – RC Strasbourg, undisclosed
Speaking in May, Maresca revelled in Chelsea's Champions League qualification, telling those who have doubted him and his side to 'f*** off'.
'I didn't have any doubts about the players,' the Chelsea head coach said. 'The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answer and the truth, they were saying we were too young, we were not good enough.
'They were saying we were not able to win on this pitch because we were too young and not experienced.
'Unfortunately for them they are all wrong, all the ones who have the truth and the answer for everything. So in English, I will say 'eff off' to all of them.'
MORE: Eberechi Eze release clause set to expire today with Arsenal interested in move
MORE: Ruben Amorim prefers Ollie Watkins – but Man Utd make Benjamin Sesko No.1 target
MORE: Thomas Frank sends message to Christian Norgaard over £15m Arsenal transfer
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