Chelsea Manager Enzo Maresca in the Dock Following 2-2 Draw with Ipswich

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has refused to beg the support of the angry fans after his side’s disappointing 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

This performance has brought increased pressure to bear on the Italian manager.

Chelsea were jeered off the pitch at full time after a uninspired first-half display which left them 2-0 behind on goals by Ipswich duo Julio Enciso and Ben Johnson.

Although the Blues did rally in the second half — courtesy of an own goal by Axel Tuanzebe and a late strike by Jadon Sancho — the draw did nothing to stifle mounting fears about Chelsea’s chances of finishing top four.

Maresca, after the game, conceded tension in the stadium but said he would not call on fans to be more patient.

“I am not here to beg for support,” he told reporters. “The fans are entitled to voice how they feel. But we must remain calm and maintain focus on who we are as a team.”.

The manager suggested the reception of his home supporters influenced the style of his players and added the boos had brought a tactical reaction throughout.

“We had a very good game plan to play out from the back, but we went under pressure from the crowd and we started to go long — we’re not a long side, we are,” Maresca said.

The draw leaves Chelsea on the last Champions League qualification spot, a point ahead of Newcastle United, who have a game in hand. With a series of patchy performances and crunch games ahead, there are questions about Maresca’s tactics and judgement.

The supporters have faulted the manager’s tactical inflexibility and questionable substitutions, particularly in matches where Chelsea have been unable to break through against well-organized defensive setups.

This latest defeat follows a run of unimpressive performances that have threatened to jeopardize the club’s chances of finishing top-five.

Maresca insisted on internal solidarity in spite of the criticism and again ordered the players to believe in the process.

“The solution isn’t to panic,” he said. “We’ve come a long way and need to believe in the system, especially when results are hard to come by.”

Chelsea now turn their attention to a must-win fixture against Crystal Palace next weekend, with growing pressure from fans and pundits alike for the team to deliver a convincing performance.

Whether or not Maresca is able to silence the doubters and restore Chelsea to their best form remains to be seen — but for the meantime, Stamford Bridge is a tension cauldron.