The Blues' head coach has launched a fierce defence of his playing style, but a derby win would silence his critics
At the start of the season, the vast majority of Chelsea fans would have bitten your hand off to be in the fight for a Champions League place come March. But even though that is the reality, there is a sense that the chances of the campaign being deemed a success hang in the balance.
A tantalising early-season title push has turned into a turgid slog for a top-four place, with serious questions being asked of head coach Enzo Maresca's tactics as his side struggle for consistency, causing him to fire back in a barbed press conference.
But as we approach the run-in, Chelsea are still on course to surpass most people's expectations this season – including their own fans. A London derby against fierce rivals Arsenal now looms, and it provides Maresca with the perfect opportunity to prove a point and demonstrate the progress he's made.
AFPSlow burn
Maresca certainly hasn't been an instant hit with Chelsea fans in the same way that his predecessors Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel were, but that is a reflection of his determination to do things his own way rather than pander to anyone else – even the supporters.
He seems keen to maintain a steely demeanour, breaking into a smile every so often in his press conferences and showing his passion in his goal celebrations, but none of it feels performative or over the top; you won't catch him diving into the crowd like Conte or sprinting down the touchline like Tuchel.
There were the first signs that the fanbase was warming to Maresca in early December following the 5-1 victory at Southampton that sent Chelsea second and into the title race conversation, with the travelling support chanting both his name and 'We've got our Chelsea back' after the full-time whistle.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportImpatience with patience
Maresca, however, has certainly learnt how fickle football and fans can be in the months since; amid an alarming downturn in form that saw Chelsea slip from second to sixth at one stage, those positive sounds from the stands were replaced with chants of 'We want our Chelsea back' from certain sections.
There is also the perception that the manager doesn't talk up his side and their aspirations enough, instead insisting they were not in a title challenge and actually ahead of schedule by even challenging for a top-four place, while he was content to 'focus on the league' following the dire FA Cup exit at the hands out Brighton.
Although the ship finally seems to have steadied after two tumultuous months, with the Blues reclaiming fourth place courtesy of consecutive victories over almost-doomed Southampton and Leicester City, there remains some disgruntlement towards the Italian coach's patient, often slow, possession-based playing style.
The crowd's displeasure was audible on several occasions during the laboured victory over the Foxes last Sunday, with one backwards pass from Enzo Fernandez proving to be particularly provocative when more adventurous options were available.
Bizarrely, Maresca claimed that is exactly how he wants his team to play after the game. "The good thing is that Fernandez knows that if he doesn’t play back, I will change (substitute) him," he said. "If the ‘keeper plays long, I will change him. This is what we have."
AFP'Not PlayStation football'
In what was one of his most impassioned post-match press conferences to date, Maresca launched a fierce defence of his approach after the murmurs of discontent and warned his detractors among the Chelsea fanbase that football is "not a PlayStation" game.
"The people have to understand this is our way, our style, and this is the way we are going to play," he insisted. "When a team creates the amount of chances we created, you have to be happy. It’s not easy.
"Leicester, until minute 83, were 0-0 against Arsenal; the same thing happened against [Manchester] City. If you think football is just a PlayStation [game] and you win easy, no way – every game is difficult. The way the players have done is fantastic.
"We need our fans. I said two days ago our Champions League target will be with our fans supporting us, and especially when you play at home. We need them behind the players with the spirit they showed."
Getty Images SportUndeniable progress
Maresca is undoubtedly a victim of the success he had earlier in the season, when Chelsea were playing with confidence and relatively free of injuries to propel themselves into the title race. Now the fans have had a taste of past glories, there is an insatiable thirst for more.
But despite a tough couple of months where the Blues only won twice in the Premier League between December 22 and February 22, the west Londoners still find themselves in the top four. It could have been a lot, lot worse.
There are uncanny parallels to Maresca's time at Leicester, where he also faced criticism for his tactical approach. Even though the Foxes frittered away a healthy lead at the top of the Championship, they were still promoted as champions at the end of the season.
Many expected Chelsea to struggle under Maresca when he took over, but he has maintained their Champions League push throughout the campaign so far and even given a glimpse of what is perhaps to come in the future in that brief title challenge. The Italian tactician has always insisted that his side are ahead of schedule, with the expectation they will return to Europe's elite club competition at the end of in 2025-26, so if they can grind out qualification this season – by whatever means possible – that must be deemed a success.
