Enzo Maresca arrived at Stamford Bridge with a fresh perspective, aiming to reestablish Chelsea as a consistent force as the next permanent managerial appointment in Todd Boehly’s ownership. The Blues have been out of favour since the American purchased the club from Roman Abramovic in 2022, and things have gone bad to worse for a side that one regularly dominated Premier League betting.
Indeed, it’s been seven years since Chelsea lifted the Premier League title under Antonio Conte, and many at west London are getting itchy feet as to when they think the trophy could return to Stamford Bridge. Bohely looked to a fellow Italian in Maresca to try and turn things around – to a mixed bag of results.
Despite encouraging moments, Maresca’s task isn’t simple. To avoid the pitfalls that claimed his predecessors, he must show consistency. The former Manchester City assistant brings tactical acumen and experience from working alongside Pep Guardiola but needs to instil that winning mentality in an inexperienced squad.
His league start has shown promise, with Chelsea finding solid footing in the Premier League. However, recent setbacks, like the 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to Newcastle, highlight the challenges that still lie ahead.
On the edge of the Champions League places at the time of writing, this article looks at how Maresca’s start compares to the previous Chelsea managers of the Boehly era, and what needs to be done for the former Leicester City boss to keep his job.
Thomas Tuchel
Arriving in January 2021, Thomas Tuchel wasted no time cementing his legacy at Chelsea, guiding them to Champions League glory within months after beating Manchester City in Porto. The Blues also came close to a domestic double the following season but were twice denied by Liverpool on penalties.
Yet, despite his swift success on the European and continental stage – winning the Super Cup and Club World Cup – Tuchel’s path under new ownership proved turbulent.
Boehly’s takeover saw increasing friction as differing visions emerged— Tuchel’s more reserved style clashed with the American’s hands-on approach.
While the German remained immensely popular among fans, his tenure was cut short in September 2022. Even so, he left Stamford Bridge with his reputation enhanced, having transformed Chelsea back into European contenders in record time.
Graham Potter
Graham Potter’s arrival was marked by optimism that his tactical nouse from Brighton could bring a new identity to Chelsea.
Backed by Boehly’s trust midway through the season, Potter was seen as the man to implement a more methodical, long-term project.
Unfortunately, Chelsea’s form wavered under his leadership, and consistency became a persistent issue. Despite a few strong performances, his tenure was defined by injury struggles, team inconsistency, and pressure to integrate high-cost transfers into a cohesive unit, namely Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk.
Potter’s departure in early 2023 marked another swift managerial change, leaving Chelsea again in search of stability.
Frank Lampard (Interim)
Club legend Frank Lampard returned as interim manager after Potter’s departure, with the task of steering Chelsea through the season’s remainder – Bruno Saltor deemed unequipped throughout his match as caretaker.
Although Lampard’s appointment was met with nostalgia and fan support, his brief return was marred by lacklustre performances.
The club ultimately finished 12th in the Premier League, and were dumped out of Europe in the Champions League quarter-final – beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid.
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival brought high hopes due to his reputation for developing young players and implementing a high-intensity style at Tottenham Hotspur, where he reached the 2019 Champions League final.
Despite an energetic start in pre-season, Pochettino’s tenure was plagued by injuries to key players, and his calm approach couldn’t compensate for inconsistent form.
Results in the league were mixed, and there was growing frustration with Chelsea’s inability to convert performances into points.
The low point of the season was when Chelsea were beaten by a Liverpool side largely formed of academy graduates and squad players in the League Cup final, and despite a resurgence at the back end of the season, few were surprised by the sacking.
