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Former player Nigel Reo-Coker believes Enzo Maresca downplaying Chelsea's title ambitions when they appeared to be in the Premier League title race is what has come back to haunt the club. The Blues are sixth on the league table, with 54 points after 32 matches.
When the 2024-25 season began, Maresca, who had just taken over the managerial reins at Chelsea, got off to a slow start. However, as the season progressed, they began to get into their groove.
Between October 27 and December 22 last year, the Blues were on a nine-game unbeaten streak (six wins and three draws). During this period, Maresca kept playing down their chances of winning the league, saying they were not ready.
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Since losing 2-1 to Fulham on Boxing Day, things have gone on a downward spiral for Chelsea, as they have struggled in the attack and the defensive third. For Reo-Coker, Maresca’s public reluctance to label his team as title contenders is the reason for their campaign getting derailed.
The former midfielder said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s 'Football Daily' podcast:
"Whether you are a manager or not, you have always got to show ambition, so the biggest mistake he made was when they were on that great run and he tried to say they weren't in the title race. From then on, it has started to slowly go wrong for them."
He added:
"It's not good for Maresca and it's almost like he's talking himself out of Stamford Bridge because of the response he is getting from fans. You have to be ambitious when you've spent that much, when you have those young players and when you are managing Chelsea. That club is built around winning because of the success they have had in recent history. You are expected to finish in the top four."
Ex-Premier League striker Clinton Morrison says Enzo Maresca’s ridiculous decisions will cost Chelsea the Champions League spots
On the same podcast, former player Clinton Morrison said the Blues will miss out on the next season’s Champions League due to Maresca’s poor decision-making. They have won just five of their last 16 league games and are on the verge of elimination from Europe’s premier football competition following their 2-2 draw with Ipswich on Sunday (April 13).
Morrison told BBC:
"He is making ridiculous decisions. His decision making is not right and five wins in 16 league games is nowhere near good enough. Chelsea will fall out of the Champions League spots because they don't have one easy game in the run-in."
The Blues' remaining league fixtures for the 2024-25 campaign are: Fulham [away], Everton [home], Liverpool [home], Newcastle [away], Manchester United [home], and Nottingham Forest [away].
