Pressure is mounting on Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca following a series of tense press conferences, sparking early bookmaker speculation over who could succeed him at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca's Tense Comments Spark Storm
The Italian coach caused concern last week when he publicly stated that "the last 48 hours has been the worst since I joined the club because many people didn't support me and the team." When pressed on who he was referring to, Maresca replied, "In general," but was quick to clarify his remarks were not aimed at the club's supporters.
"I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans," he added. The comments led to widespread speculation of a fallout with senior figures at the club, though the situation has since cooled following consecutive Premier League wins against Everton and Cardiff City.
Blues' Season and Festive Plea
Despite the off-pitch noise, Chelsea's on-field campaign remains relatively steady. The team currently occupies fourth place in the Premier League, putting them on course for Champions League qualification once more. However, consistency has been an issue in their bid to close the gap to the division's top two.
Maresca has since called for unity from the fanbase over the busy festive period. "Continue to support the team in the way you have done since I joined the club and also in the past," he urged. "Just trust the process from the team, the club and from everyone."
He pointed to the club's recent achievements, stating: "The other day we achieved our third semi-final in 18 months. Last season, again, was good in terms of trophies, and we finished fourth... We brought the club back to the Champions League and the target is to improve upon what we did last season."
Bookmakers' Next Chelsea Manager Odds
With an element of pressure lingering, several UK bookmakers have already opened markets on who could replace Maresca should the club's form deteriorate. The current favourite is former Barcelona manager Xavi, priced at 5/1.
Fulham's Marco Silva and Liam Rosenior, the manager of Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg, are seen as the next most likely candidates. The list also features several former bosses and club legends at longer odds.
The full list of contenders and their odds is as follows:
- Xavi: 5/1
- Marco Silva: 6/1
- Liam Rosenior: 7/1
- Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner, Unai Emery: 8/1
- Antonio Conte: 12/1
- Diego Simeone, Julian Nagelsmann: 14/1
- Regis Le Bris, Sebastian Hoeness, Simone Inzaghi: 16/1
- Cesc Fabregas: 18/1
- Frank Lampard: 20/1
The relatively long odds for even the favourite indicate that bookmakers do not believe Maresca's dismissal is imminent. However, the market highlights the names in the frame should Chelsea's hierarchy decide to make a change, adding an extra layer of scrutiny over the crucial Christmas period.
