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Tag: Everton

  • Chelsea’s troubled season not a failure insists Maresca

    Chelsea’s troubled season not a failure insists Maresca

    Enzo Maresca insists his first season at Chelsea has not been a failure after criticism of the Italian’s conservative tactics in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

    Maresca’s sixth-placed side are in danger of missing out on a top five finish in the Premier League with just five games left.

    The Blues have only six wins in their last 17 league games ahead of Saturday’s clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

    Chelsea are two points adrift of fifth-placed Newcastle after coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 with two late goals.

    Maresca barely celebrated the west London derby victory, leaving the Craven Cottage pitch immediately after the final whistle in a move that was interpreted as a response to mounting criticism from frustrated supporters.

    The former Leicester manager’s cautious game plans have irked fans, who have jeered Maresca and his players several times this season.

    Maresca is adamant he deserves respect for his work at Chelsea, who finished sixth under his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino last term.

    “Compared to the last two years, the season is not a failure,” Maresca told reporters on Friday.

    “How many times in the last two years have Chelsea been in the Champions League places? And this season we have been there almost all season. It’s an improvement or not? It’s already an improvement.”

    Despite Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly Clearlake Capital investing over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in new signings since buying the club in 2022, the Blues are yet to win a trophy in the post-Roman Abramovich era.

    But, having been in second place and two points behind champions-elect Liverpool in December, Maresca accused the doubters of failing to recognise Chelsea’s development.

    “Compared to the last two years it’s quite clear there is an improvement,” he said.

    “If you want to see it, you see it. If you don’t want to see it, you don’t see it. Depends in which way you look. I see it.

    “We have the obligation to bring this club to where it belongs. The results have been there. Me as a manager, the club, we all have ambition. I think we are in the right direction and hopefully we can be there very soon.”

    Asked about his tense relationship with Chelsea fans, Maresca added: “I can understand. The fans are the same as when they were singing that Chelsea is back and showing that they were happy.

    “Now because we are not winning the same number of games as at the beginning, they are showing they’re not happy.”

  • Premier League comes to a culmination as relegation battle looms

    Premier League comes to a culmination as relegation battle looms

    The Premier League concludes this season with all 10 fixtures slated for 6.30pm EAT as Everton, Leicester and Leeds look to avoid the drop while Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brentford are in the hunt for a Europa Conference League place. Manchester City prolific forward Erling Haaland on the other hand is on the verge of another top-flight record.

    With just one round of fixtures remaining, Everton (17th – 33 points), Leicester (18th – 31 points) and Leeds (19th – 31 points) are all in danger of dropping into the Championship with already-relegated Southampton.

    The Toffees will be certain of surviving if Leeds fail to beat Tottenham and Leicester don’t beat West Ham.

    As it stands, Leeds need a win to have any hope of staying up and could still be relegated even if they beat Tottenham and Everton don’t defeat Bournemouth because Leicester sit above them in the table on goal difference.

    Leicester have to beat West Ham to have any hope of avoiding relegation, and hope Bournemouth can take something from their final-day game at Everton, and that Leeds don’t manage the unthinkable and overturn their nine-goal superior goal difference.

    In the event that Leicester don’t win on Sunday, goal difference could yet prove decisive in a head-to-head fight to avoid the drop between Everton and Leeds.

    Were Everton to draw with Bournemouth and Leeds to beat Tottenham then they would both finish the season on 34 points.

    At present, Leeds’ goal difference is -27 and Everton’s -24. If Leeds were to win by three clear goals and Everton were to draw, Leeds would then finish above Everton on account of goals scored.

    The identity of the top six is now confirmed, however, three teams are still fighting to take seventh and the final place in Europe that can be earned through league position.

    Aston Villa (58 points), Tottenham (57 points) and Brentford (56 points) all go into the final day of the season with a chance of playing in next season’s Europa Conference League.

    The destination of the Premier League title may already be known as Man City wrapped a third successive title last weekend, but Erling Haaland is on course for yet another league record when Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Brentford.

    The 22-year-old has scored a phenomenal 52 goals in 48 games in all competitions – including a record-breaking 36 in 35 Premier League appearances.

    Arsenal are guaranteed to finish second, their best position since 2015/16. If they win, they will equal their club record of 26 wins in a Premier League season.