Enzo Maresca makes Chelsea supporters plea over growing frustrations

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca implored an increasingly disillusioned fanbase to “trust” him and accept his preferred style of play.

The Blues were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw against relegation-scrapping Ipswich Town on Sunday, prompting plenty of dissent from a group of supporters who have grown frustrated with the patient, possession-based approach Maresca demands.

The divisive Italian coach has the backing of Chelsea’s owners, but is unimpressed with the “environment” created at Stamford Bridge during recent matches. The west London outfit have won just one of their last four Premier League matches – a London derby against 15th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Sunday’s stalemate with Ipswich left Chelsea sixth in the table, one point adrift of the top five which will guarantee Champions League qualification. Maresca was keen to highlight this strong position when addressing the criticism he has received.

“In the last two years, Chelsea has been top four zero times. This season we have been top four most of our season,” the Blues boss pointedly noted. “I was not here last season, two years ago. So I’m not judging what’s happened last year or two years ago. I’m just judging this season. And this is the reason why I think fans, they have to trust the team, they have to trust the club, what we are doing now.

“I think it’s quite clear that the direction is the right one. The style is the right one. Before the Ipswich game, we were the third‑best defenders after Arsenal and Liverpool. And the third- or fourth‑best attacking. They are numbers that show that the team is doing well.”

Chelsea supporters protested against the club’s ownership group at the end of February and are beginning to turn their ire towards the team and touchline. “If fans complain because after four minutes our keeper gave the ball away, if I am one of the fans, I also complain,” Maresca admitted. “But sometimes also they complain with something that probably they cannot see, but it’s a planned game.

“The fans, with us, they have been always good. Sometimes they are not happy, but when you are 0-2 at home against Ipswich and we are making some mistakes, it’s normal that they are not happy.”

Malo Gusto shifted the onus onto the players. “[Fan frustrations] can happen, especially the way we finished the first half against Ipswich – they were a bit upset, we can understand that,” the right-back admitted.

“The thing for us it to try and get them behind us, try and give them back the desire to support Chelsea and that is what we are going to do. For sure we need them, we need us as a team to show on the pitch we are Chelsea and and here to win everything and we will try and show that.”

Maresca has the chance to get fans onside when his team host Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final on Thursday.