Chelsea are set to hold critical internal talks over Enzo Maresca’s position, with a decision expected before the squad travel to Manchester for their upcoming Premier League meeting with Manchester City. The timing underlines the seriousness of the situation, with the club keen to establish clarity before one of the most demanding fixtures of the season.
The review is not centred on a single match, but the City fixture has emerged as a clear reference point internally. Chelsea’s hierarchy view the period leading into the Etihad trip as a natural deadline to determine whether the current direction remains viable or whether decisive action is required to avoid further instability.
From the club’s perspective, recent performances have raised broader concerns about control and consistency rather than isolated results. The accumulation of dropped points, repeated patterns within matches and an inability to fully impose a game plan have all fed into the current reassessment. These issues are being weighed against the objectives set at the start of the campaign.
More significantly, the situation has been complicated by an increasingly strained relationship between the head coach and the club’s leadership. What initially appeared as routine internal disagreement has developed into a more serious dispute over authority, communication and decision-making. The breakdown has reached a stage where questions are being asked about whether effective cooperation can continue.
There is an understanding within Chelsea that the situation could lead to an abrupt departure rather than a prolonged standoff. One scenario being discussed is that Maresca may choose to walk away if the working relationship with the board is deemed no longer functional. Such an outcome would be viewed not as an emotional reaction, but as the result of irreconcilable differences at executive level.
Financial considerations and squad stability remain part of the equation, but they are no longer acting as protective barriers. The club is balancing the cost of change against the risk of allowing uncertainty to persist through a critical phase of the season. From an internal standpoint, clarity is now considered more valuable than delay.
The Manchester City match, therefore, is not simply another fixture. It represents a line in the calendar by which Chelsea intend to resolve the issue one way or another. Whether Maresca leads the team at the Etihad or not is expected to reflect the outcome of discussions already underway.
Supporter reaction continues to form part of the background noise, but it is not shaping the process. Chelsea’s focus remains firmly on structure, alignment and the sustainability of the project.
As matters stand, the club is moving towards a defining moment. With talks scheduled and the City trip looming, Enzo Maresca’s future is set to be decided by internal dynamics rather than events on the touchline alone.
