Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is expected to lead the team into next season even if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
The club hierarchy, led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, plan to reserve judgement on the 45-year-old Italian until the summer of 2026.
That is despite ongoing uncertainty over whether Chelsea will secure a top-five finish following their 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday.
With two rounds of the Premier League season remaining, Maresca’s team sit fifth, but they are only ahead of Aston Villa on goal difference, with matches at home to Manchester United and away at seventh-placed Nottingham Forest to come.
This has been Maresca’s first season in charge, after joining from Leicester City in June 2024.
The top five from the top flight will qualify for the Champions League, with the Premier League benefiting from an extra place because of its teams’ strong performances in Europe.
Chelsea have also reached the Europa Conference League final and will play Real Betis in Wroclaw, Poland, on 28 May.
If Maresca and his team fall short in the Premier League, injuries throughout the winter period will be considered a significant factor.
Underlying data showing their missed chances (the second most in the Premier League) and expected goals (fifth highest in the league) will also influence Chelsea’s decision makers. Both metrics illustrate the team are creating a lot of scoring opportunities, even if they are not always finishing them.
Chelsea, therefore, are expected to retain the Italian, barring a huge U-turn or falling-out.
