Chelsea’s toxic atmosphere is laid bare in new footage from Stamford Bridge after Enzo Maresca appeared to go to war with his own fans after his side’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Ipswich

New footage has emerged showing just how toxic the atmosphere was at Stamford Bridge during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Ipswich on Sunday. 

The Blues were partially able to claw back from a two-goal deficit against Kieran McKenna‘s relegation strugglers thanks to an own goal by Axel Tuanzebe and an equaliser from Jadon Sancho.

Chelsea slipped out of the top five after this matchweek, now a point off City and two points behind Newcastle, the latter of whom have a game in hand.

Enzo Maresca risked backlash from Chelsea fans by suggesting the ‘environment’ they created at the Bridge helped Ipswich take the 2-0 lead from which his Champions League chasers could never fully recover.

A video was posted on social media where fans could be heard hurling vile expletives towards players as Robert Sanchez prepared to take a goal-kick following an Ipswich counter-attack.

‘F***ing sort it out,’ were the words of one fan, before he added: ‘You f***ing useless ****s.’

WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE 

The Blues were held to a 2-2 draw against Ipswich, putting a major dent in their top-five hopes

Enzo Maresca argued that the ‘environment’ in the stadium hindered his side’s performance

‘F***ing piece of s***,’ said another fan while Sanchez urged his team to move up the pitch.

Maresca appeared to claim the negativity led to Sanchez sending the goal-kick long as opposed to playing it short as per the original plan, and the visitors took advantage by making 2-0 seconds later. 

‘We lost a little bit of confidence, because we conceded, probably because of the environment,’ Maresca said after the result.

‘This is the moment that you have to continue doing the right things and don’t change the plan. 

‘We are a team that most of the time, our goal-kick will start from playing short. The second goal, we decide to play long, because the environment was there, and we conceded. You have to be strong, you have to continue with the things that you are doing.’ 

The footage seems to corroborate with Maresca’s claim, as it shows Chelsea fans turning up the boos just as Sanchez stepped up to take the goal-kick, then cheering when he went long rather than playing the ball out of the back. 

Mail Sport understands that Maresca is still on safe ground as Chelsea‘s head coach, though the Italian has work to do to improve his relationship with the fanbase after seemingly taking on his own supporters.

Full focus inside of the club is on the run-in, where they can still secure Champions League football and lift a trophy in the Conference League, and there is no consideration being made for yet another managerial change.

Mail Sport understands Maresca is safe in his job but will need to get some fans back on side

Maresca said: ‘We are stronger with our fans. We are a better team. It’s up to them to decide the way.

‘For sure, in the moment that we are in a difficult moment, you can expect that they [the fans] are not happy, but in the same moment, probably it’s the moment that the players, especially the players that are inside the pitch, probably need more support.’ 

Chelsea next play at home on Thursday, when they host Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie, which the Blues lead 3-0.

Victory for Chelsea would tee up a semi-final clash against either Rapid Vienna or Djurgarden.