Maresca insists the first season at Chelsea has been an “improvement” instead of failure

Chelsea’s head, Enzo Maresca, has receded against the claims that his debut campaign has been a disappointment, insisting that critics ignore the advances that his team has made this season.

The Italian main coach spoke after the victory on his side 2-1 over Fulham to Craven Cottage last weekend, a result that momentarily pushed Chelsea to the first five places and reigned the hopes of a return from the Champions League.

Although Nottingham Forest has recovered fifth place since then, Maresca is still entrusted in the leadership that the team is heading while Chelsea is preparing for a crucial clash against Everton.

“Compared to the last two years (the season) is not a failure,” said Maresca.

“How many times in the last two years has been Chelsea in the Champions League (places)? And this season we have been there almost all season. Is it an improvement or not? It’s already an improvement.”

Chelsea’s recent history under owners Todd Boehly has been turbulent, marked by heavy investment (more than a billion pounds in transfers) and frequent changes in both the workforce and the coaching staff.

The club finished 12th in 2023 and went up to last season. This campaign aimed to stabilize the project, with less disorders and a clearer structure, but at present the team is in the same league position that it did at the end of last year.

Despite a mid -season increase that saw Chelsea briefly raised in the second in December, at two more points in the first place, his form took a turn shortly after. However, Maresca still believes that the largest image shows an improvement.

🚨 Update of the template ahead of Everton.

– Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) April 25, 2025

“Compared to the last two years, of course there is an improvement,” he added.

“If you want to see it, you see it. If you do not want to see -you do not see it. It depends on how (look). I see it.

“We have an obligation to bring this club where it belongs. The results have been there. I as manager, the club, we all have ambition. I think we are in the right direction and I hope we can be -very soon.”

Maresca’s relationship with Chelsea’s fanbase has been tensioned during the patch of results, and tensions were again evident after Fulham’s victory.

Above all, he chose not to join the celebrations with the travelers after Pedro Neto’s late winner.

“I can understand (frustration).

“We are trying to keep them happy. I think fans are the same as (in December) when they sang that Chelsea has returned and shows that they were happy.

“Now because we do not win the same number of games that at first, they show that they are not happy. The way we accepted it when they sing that Chelsea has returned, we must accept -now that they are not happy.”