Enzo Maresca has pleaded with Chelsea’s owners to be given time in the job as the club’s fifth manager of the Todd Boehly / Clearlake Capital era prepares for his first game in charge on Sunday. The Italian has the daunting task of beginning his reign at Stamford Bridge with a visit by the champions, Manchester City, although will at least have some familiar faces in the visiting dugout as he was previously on Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola has backed his friend to succeed where Mauricio Pochettino, Frank Lampard and Graham Potter have failed since Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League for Chelsea three years ago. Even Tuchel was unable to win the backing of the club’s owners, with the German sacked 15 months after Chelsea beat City in Porto, so Maresca’s plea for patience may well be forlorn.
