A month ago, Chelsea were three points off the top of the Premier League.
Now, Enzo Maresca is reportedly fighting to keep his job.
That swing alone tells you everything about modern football, and maybe even more about Chelsea.
According to Sky Sports, Enzo Maresca could be dismissed within days, with a decision expected around New Year’s Day. One win in seven league games, strained internal relations, public frustration from fans, and a growing sense that something behind the scenes has broken.
Yet the league table does not scream crisis. Chelsea sit fifth. They are still in domestic cup competitions. They won trophies last season. So why does it feel like the end is approaching anyway?
Because at Chelsea, form is only half the story. Direction is the real currency.
December Didn’t Just Hurt Results, It Hurt Trust
Chelsea’s December was not disastrous in isolation. Draws against Bournemouth and Newcastle, defeats to Aston Villa, Leeds and Atalanta, and a single league win against Everton. Not ideal, but hardly catastrophic.
What made it damaging was the way it unfolded.
Chelsea dropped 13 points from winning positions this season. Six of those came at Stamford Bridge. Performances fluctuated wildly. Line-ups changed constantly. Over-rotation became a weekly talking point, with Chelsea making more changes than almost any side in the league.
Fans did not just lose patience with results. They lost confidence in the plan.
When supporters start asking “what are we actually trying to be?”, the ground beneath a manager shifts quickly.
The “Worst 48 Hours” Comment That Changed the Mood
Maresca’s situation worsened after Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton, ironically one of the few positives in an otherwise bleak run.
Post-match, the Italian described the build-up as the “worst 48 hours” of his time at the club, claiming that “many people didn’t support us”. While he later stressed his love for the fans, the damage was already done.
Those words landed awkwardly.
Fans heard deflection.
The board reportedly heard frustration.
The media sensed a fracture.
At Chelsea, public comments matter. They always have. When a manager hints at a lack of internal support, it rarely strengthens their position.
From that moment on, Maresca’s tenure felt like it entered a different phase. Less about football, more about survival.
Results vs Context: The Youngest Squad Argument
Maresca’s defenders point to context, and it is not without merit.
Chelsea have the youngest squad in the Premier League. Their recruitment strategy has prioritised potential over polish. Developing players while competing at the top end of English football is not a simple task.
There are also genuine positives. Big wins against Liverpool and Barcelona. A strong showing against Arsenal with ten men. Trophies last season, including the Conference League and Club World Cup. A return to the Champions League.
This is not the record of a manager completely out of his depth.
But Chelsea managers are rarely judged on fairness. They are judged on momentum.
And right now, Chelsea feel stuck between two identities: not patient enough to rebuild slowly, not stable enough to challenge immediately.
Why “Direction of Travel” Matters More Than the Table
Sky Sports’ reporting keeps returning to the same phrase: direction of travel.
Chelsea are five points worse off than they were at this stage last season. Performances feel flatter. The connection with supporters appears weaker. Boos at Stamford Bridge, chants questioning substitutions, and visible frustration around key decisions have become more frequent.
This is familiar territory for Chelsea fans. It mirrors the final months of previous reigns where results alone could not repair a broken relationship.
Once that sense sets in, fixtures stop mattering. Even upcoming games against Manchester City, Arsenal and in the FA Cup feel less like opportunities and more like deadlines.
A Chelsea Problem, Not Just a Enzo Maresca One
If Maresca does leave, whether by sacking or “mutual agreement”, Chelsea will once again be asking a familiar question.
Is the issue really the coach, or the cycle?
Since the ownership change, Chelsea have demanded both patience and progress, youth development and immediate results. That contradiction has undone more than one manager.
Maresca may believe he deserved more support. The board may believe the project is drifting. Fans are caught somewhere in between, watching another promising chapter threaten to end early.
What Happens Next Matters More Than Who Leaves
If Chelsea make a change, it cannot simply be reactive. Another reset without clarity only deepens the instability.
And if Maresca stays, results alone will not be enough. The mood needs fixing. The connection needs rebuilding. The sense of purpose must return.
Because at Chelsea, once belief goes, it rarely comes back quietly.
Whether Enzo Maresca survives the next 48 hours or not, this episode feels like another reminder that at Stamford Bridge, it is never just about the league table.
It is always about where things feel like they are heading.
