Enzo Maresca and Chelsea have the week to enjoy a mini-Christmas break after a hard-fought battle with Newcastle, but it’s not exactly a gift having to face the most in-form team in the country.
Aston Villa are on a frankly ridiculous run of form, a nine-game win streak that has propelled them to third in the Premier League after a pretty woeful start to the campaign.
Unai Emery has his team firing on all cylinders, and Chelsea will have to be on top of their game to get anything out of it.
Not great, then, to learn that Enzo Maresca won’t be in the dugout, but rather watching on from the stands at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca ‘absolutely’ committed to Chelsea 👀
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
What’s more likely?
Chelsea sack Maresca Maresca decides to leave
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Enzo Maresca addresses suspension after yellow card against Newcastle
The Italian wears his heart on his sleeve, for better or worse.
Maresca’s explosive outburst after Everton last week was a prime example. That can be a positive too, but not today.
He was put into the book for protesting what he viewed as unbalanced officiating.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
As he explained in his press conference (via Football London): “I was complaining because the same foul was a yellow card for us and they did exactly the same foul three or four times, but it was no yellow card, so I asked the question and complained to the referee.”
Maresca isn’t the only one taking issue with the officiating. Eddie Howe thinks Chelsea were seriously lucky not to concede a penalty when Trevoh Chalobah sent Anthony Gordon to the ground.
It’s a silly thing to do, really, but the Chelsea coach expresses his emotions. We’ll see if it comes back to bite him — and us — next week.
Is Trevoh Chalobah a lucky man?
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A dramatic improvement needed vs Aston Villa
With seven days until Chelsea host red-hot Aston Villa, Maresca should be able to again field his strongest lineup.
That wasn’t the issue against Newcastle, though. It was the lethargic manner in which the Blues started the game. Chelsea needed some Reece James magic to change the game.
If Chelsea are to break Villa’s streak, it will require a 90-minute performance, not a 45-minute one like we saw today.
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