Enzo Maresca insists relationship with Chelsea hierarchy is ‘normal’

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca believes the media struggle to accept that he has a “normal” relationship with his Blues bosses.

Co-owner Behdad Eghbali is a frequent visitor to the home changing room at Stamford Bridge after matches, as are co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

At times it has prompted questioning as to the nature of the conversations that go on in the immediate aftermath of games, particularly when results have been poor.

The trio were seen entering the changing room almost before Maresca and his players after a messy collapse that precipitated a 3-1 defeat to Brighton in September, with the Italian grilled over what the hierarchy had made of his team’s capitulation.

He has repeatedly insisted that any talk of a strained atmosphere is wide of the mark, and ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground said it had been business as usual with owners.

“I spoke with Behdad (Thursday) night,” said Maresca. “It was just a normal conversation like almost every week. Even if you (the media) struggle to accept or to understand.”

A dramatic stoppage-time goal from Brazilian teenager Estevao earned Chelsea a badly needed 2-1 win against Premier League champions Liverpool before the international break, a moment that could mark a turning point in the season after an underwhelming start.

Prior to that the team were winless in three matches in the league and were facing the daunting prospect of behind 10 points behind the Reds by the first week of October.

Maresca has previously claimed he is a year ahead of schedule at Stamford Bridge having returned the team to the Champions League in his first season in charge, and despite the club having spent heavily again during the summer he has made no indication that the owners and sporting directors have tasked him with mounting a title challenge.

“They are always in the changing room,” he said. “We always have conversations with Paul and Laurence and Behdad. Nothing has changed since I joined the club.

“We all know that we are going in the right direction, we all know there are things we need to do better. We all know there are things with which we are happy.”

The pressure may be off Maresca for now following the Liverpool win but the same cannot be said of his opposite number on Saturday, Ange Postecoglou.

The Forest boss is yet to win since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last month and there is growing speculation that he could be the next Premier League boss to be sacked.

Last season this fixture served as a winner-takes-all shoot-out for the Champions League on the final day, but this season the hosts find themselves perilously placed just above the relegation zone.

“Unfortunately this is a business where you need to win games,” said Maresca. “It’s for Ange, it’s for any manager in the world. If you don’t win games, unfortunately it’s our job, you’re under pressure.”