Why Enzo Maresca deserves time as Chelsea close the gap on elite rivals

Enzo Maresca has been Chelsea manager for approximately 18 months. In modern football — especially at a club that had been in disarray long before his arrival — that is a very short period of time.

Yet within that span, Chelsea have accumulated 97 Premier League points. For comparison, Arsenal, widely viewed as a more stable and established side, have collected 107 points over the same period.

A ten-point gap across a season and a half is not failure. It is evidence of a rebuild in progress — and of Chelsea steadily closing the gap on more settled rivals.

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The Context of His Appointment

When Maresca arrived in June 2024, he walked into one of the most difficult environments any elite coach could face.

He inherited a bloated squad of over 40 senior players, unclear hierarchies, undefined roles, and relentless external pressure. Chelsea had become a club where managers struggled to impose structure amid constant change at boardroom level.

No serious coach can succeed in such conditions without first repairing the foundations.

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Restoring Order and Clarity

Maresca’s first task was not about flair or headlines — it was about clarity.

He needed to reduce the squad to a manageable size, clearly define roles, introduce tactical consistency, manage expectations, and still deliver results every week.

That balance is rarely acknowledged, but it is where Chelsea’s transformation truly began.

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Return to Trophies and Europe’s Elite

Before Maresca’s appointment, Chelsea had endured multiple seasons without major silverware and had drifted away from Europe’s top competitions.

That drought ended swiftly.

In his first season, Chelsea lifted the UEFA Conference League, defeating Real Betis 4–1 in the final. The triumph was historic, making Chelsea the first club to win all three major European men’s competitions.

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Global Success and Momentum

The success did not stop there.

Chelsea also captured the FIFA Club World Cup, beating Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 in the final. These were not ceremonial victories — they were competitive tournaments that re-established Chelsea’s presence on the global stage.

Beyond trophies, Maresca guided the Blues back into the Champions League with a fourth-place league finish, ending a period of drift away from Europe’s elite.

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Consistency Across Competitions

Under Maresca, Chelsea have also been consistently competitive domestically.

Regular semi-final appearances, deep FA Cup runs, and strong performances against top sides signal a team that has stopped drifting and started competing with purpose again.

These are not flashes — they are patterns.

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Recognition and a Young Squad Thriving

Maresca’s work has been recognised with multiple Premier League Manager of the Month awards, reflecting tactical discipline, consistency, and resilience under pressure.

Chelsea currently sit fourth in the table, firmly in the Champions League places — achieved with one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.

That combination of youth and competitiveness is not accidental.

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The Importance of Continuity

Much of the criticism aimed at Maresca ignores the state of the club before his arrival. Some behave as if he inherited a title-ready squad and weakened it.

The reality is the opposite.

He took on instability and chaos and turned them into structure, identity, and momentum.

Football rarely rewards impatience. Clubs that restart every season seldom build anything sustainable. Every managerial change resets progress and invites uncertainty.

Maresca understands the squad, the recruitment strategy, and the academy pathway. Replacing him would not guarantee improvement — it would mean starting again.

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Final Verdict

If 97 league points in 18 months, two major trophies, multiple cup semi-finals, and a return to the Champions League are not enough to demonstrate progress, then the standard being applied is unrealistic.

Enzo Maresca does not ask for blind loyalty.

He has earned respect — for restoring order, delivering results, and guiding Chelsea forward after years of instability.

Chelsea are not standing still.

They are moving forward.