Chelsea fans offered their support to head coach Enzo Maresca following Tuesday's EFL Cup quarter-final win over Cardiff City.
Maresca opened up speculation on his future when he claimed that he had endured “the worst 48 hours” of his time in charge of Chelsea in the lead-up to Saturday's 2-0 win over Everton.
The Chelsea boss has been reluctant to expand on his remarks, which only added fuel to the speculation surrounding his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea fans show Maresca support at Cardiff
Amid the uncertainty, Chelsea supporters made their feelings clear about Maresca at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday. The travelling supporters backed their head coach with chants of ‘oh Enzo Maresca’ in the closing stages and after the final whistle of the 3-1 win, which came courtesy of an Alejandro Garnacho brace and Pedro Neto effort.
Maresca responds to Chelsea fans' support
Speaking to reporters after the game, Maresca conceded it was a “great moment” to receive the backing from the away end at the Cardiff City Stadium.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Maresca said. “It was a great moment, I appreciate it, I'm always thankful.
“I said many times in many press conferences, the support has always been there, knowing that any supporters in the world, when you don't win, they are not happy.
“So in some moments that we didn't win games, they have been not happy, but it's normal. But overall, the fans have always been there.”
The win secured Chelsea's place in the EFL Cup semi-final draw, with the Blues still in the hunt to win the competition for the first time since 2014-15.
FGG says: Fan backing crucial for Maresca
It is difficult to judge Maresca's situation without knowing the full reason as to why he claimed he had endured “the worst 48 hours” of his tenure last week. As a result, it is unclear whether Maresca's long-term position is a topic of discussion for the Chelsea hierarchy.
However, given the uncertainty, the clear support shown by Chelsea supporters will send a clear message to the board that they are happy with their head coach and any change would be unpopular.
With that said, Maresca will know that fans' opinions can change quickly if results deteriorate on the pitch. The Chelsea boss will also be aware that his position will become more secure if he can deliver more silverware after winning the Conference League and Club World Cup last season.