Enzo Maresca set for first offer as Chelsea SACK talk heats up

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is receiving strong interest from AS Roma, according to a report.

The Blues boss is under pressure as results have turned incredibly sour in recent months. Despite being the favourites to win the Conference League, Chelsea’s season could end up being overshadowed by their failure to secure a place in the Champions League.

Their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle was a hammer blow for the West London club, although they do still have two games to rectify the situation, with the race for Champions League qualification amazingly tight.

Chelsea’s run-in is certainly kind as their next fixture sees them square up with a Man Utd side that have completely given up on league play, while the final game of the season is away at fellow Champions League challengers Nottingham Forest, so qualification is all in their own hands.

However, should Chelsea lose these two games, Maresca could actually face the axe after just one season.

Chelsea to sack Maresca?

Sack talk surrounding the Italian has been heating up in recent times, although Chelsea would ideally like to refrain from having to make a change this summer due to the Club World Cup.

However, the more Maresca has been able to implement his vision of football, the worse Chelsea have become. There are also parallels to his time at Leicester, where the 45-year-old was accused of having been ‘found out’ in the second half of last season.

It is therefore unsurprising that reports are claiming that Chelsea’s bosses are having ‘identity concerns’ and are considering sacking Maresca should they indeed fail to get into Europe’s premier competition.

As for Maresca himself, he would likely land on his feet. According to TEAMtalk, Serie A side Roma are ‘strongly considering’ approaching the ex-Man City assistant.

Departing Roma boss Claudio Ranieri has personally recommended Maresca to the Friedkins, the club’s owners, but an appointment could only become a concrete possibility should he be relieved of his Chelsea duties. Maresca’s wages, too, are described as a potential stumbling block.

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