Enzo Maresca responds when asked if he’s happy at Chelsea after alleged row with club owners 

Enzo Maresca has said that he remains happy with his position at Chelsea following his cryptic remarks in which he hinted at a lack of support from the club's owners.

Chelsea defeated Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. After the match, Maresca said the 48 hours leading up to the game had been the ‘worst’ for him since he became manager at the west London club. He particularly told reporters that he felt he wasn’t getting enough support.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup quarter-final match against Cardiff City on Tuesday, Maresca refused to comment further on the outburst, insisting that he remains committed to the club. When asked if he was happy at the club, he responded:

“Absolutely, yes.”

When asked if he had spoken with the Chelsea ownership about a perceived lack of support, he said:

“I already spoke about this, I don’t need to add more things. I already spoke about that and I think I was quite clear. I respect your opinion and I don’t have anything to add, my focus is just on tomorrow’s game and that I can achieve the third semi-final since I joined the club. We are in an era where everyone can say what they think, I respect people’s opinion but I do not have anything to add.

“My focus is on tomorrow. What I said after Everton game, I already said. I said after the game that I love Chelsea supporters, they deserve the best and I have nothing to add. I can speak Italian, my language, Spanish very well, French very well, and English more or less. When I want to say something, I’m quite clear. I already spoke after the game, I don’t need to add more.”

Prior to the match against Everton, the Blues were winless in their previous four matches across competitions, including a 2-1 defeat to Atalanta in the Champions League last Tuesday.

“The board and owners at Chelsea will know it is aimed at them” – Wayne Rooney sends warning to Enzo Maresca for post-match comments

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has sent a huge warning to Enzo Maresca over his post-Everton remarks, likening it to Mohamed Salah’s outburst at Liverpool and insisting that ‘it was very premeditated.’

Rooney believed Maresca’s remarks were indirectly aimed at the Chelsea hierarchy and suggested that the Italian is unlikely to get any protection from the club.

“It was very similar to the Mo Salah situation last week where it was very premeditated," the ex-England striker said on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show. “He knows exactly what he is saying. The board and owners at Chelsea will know it is aimed at them. You've got to respect the owners of a football club. They employ you and bring you in, so it's their way and I feel he's gone a bit against that.

He continued:

“It is something that's clearly happened, whether it's a disagreement or he feels his job is under pressure. He doesn't feel it should be because of the two trophies he's won and the points he's picked up. I don't feel like he's a manager that will backtrack. He has got a passion about him and a drive about him. Whether he has heard things, like the club might want him out and he's been proactive to go on the front foot, you don't know why he's done it. It's very strange. I don't think he'll get the protection now he's come out and done what he has done. That will be very difficult for the club to come and protect him, which is a shame.”

Since his appointment, Maresca has guided Chelsea to two major trophies - the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.