Chelsea boss Maresca told he will be SACKED if he loses next two games by former Premier League star | OneFootball

Former Arsenal attacker Paul Merson says he thinks Enzo Maresca will be sacked by Chelsea if he loses the next two games.

The Blues have been on a poor run of form which has seen them slip from second in the Premier League table to seventh.

They were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa on Saturday and have won just two of the last ten games in the league.

Next up in the league for Maresca and Chelsea are home clashes with struggling Southampton and Leicester City, two games which Merson believes are pivotal.

“If they don’t win their next two games, the manager won’t be there,” Merson claimed to Sky Sports.

“They’re playing against two of the worst teams to play in the Premier League for I don’t know how long in Southampton and Leicester. So, if they don’t win those two games, he will do well to keep his job.

“Chelsea have got to get in the Champions League. They need the Champions League to keep players like Cole Palmer as he will want to play in that competition.

“They will have to finish in the top five, otherwise I dread to think what’s going to happen. I just don’t see what the plan is. All the seven-year contracts and these players are not getting any better. How many of them have been a major success?”

Speaking ahead of the game against Southampton on Tuesday, Maresca defended his side and said he thinks they are close to turning things around.

“The identity is there,” he said. “At this moment, it is just a matter of results. I have the feeling that by winning one, we can have a good run again and we build a good momentum again. This is what the players need.

“In the last seven, eight, 10 games, the huge difference has been especially inside the box – in both boxes. Apart from in the Brighton match, we always create chances, we almost always score.

“So the difference has been inside the box. We need to be defensively more strong and more clinical when we get the chance.”