Will Enzo Maresca’s ‘cryptic’ comments to the Chelsea board backfire? Peter Crouch and Joe Cole have their say

For ex-England striker Crouch, Maresca’s feelings around the lack of “support” that he has received could be related to the dearth of experienced options provided to him.

But Crouch also thought that calling out Chelsea’s hierarchy could spell trouble for The Blues’ boss, especially if results do not pick up.

“That’s not been the model of the owners at all (to buy experienced players),” said Crouch. “They’ve bought young, hungry players who want to come and succeed. They don’t have the experience, but it’s the youngest Chelsea team for a number of years that I can remember.

“I don’t think that ever ends well if you call out the board. He’s done it in a cryptic way, in a way that lets people know without really going in on them.

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“They’ll have to work things out. He’s obviously a top manager and he’s been around the English game for a long time. He’s done his homework, he’s come into this side and it’s difficult.

“A lot of people thought the new ownership was a little bit of joke at first, the amount of players they were bringing in in the same positions and it was a difficult thing to manage.

“He’s managed that really well and built a side that isn’t far away from challenging for the title.”

Meanwhile, Cole agreed that Maresca would want older players to supplement a young Chelsea squad if you “read between the lines”.

“He touched a little bit on what he’s enjoying about the job, a little bit about his frustrations. He’s obviously a competitor and you have to read between the lines,” said Cole.

“If you asked him purely from the football perspective what he would like, he’d like a different ingredient of player to come in and help the group.

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“I’m pretty sure (he would want more experienced players). He didn’t say that, but I’m pretty sure managers would want that. The comments in the past, he wanted to put them to bed and move on.”

But whether the board respond to Maresca’s implied message in the January transfer window, Cole thinks that Blues supporters will have warmed to their manager following the Everton win.

“What’s crucial, the Everton game the crowd sung his name. The crowd are smart and they know that by making those comments, it’s separated from the process,” said Cole.

“I do (think support for Maresca has gone up). Chelsea fans, yes, the expectations are high because of the success of the club in the last 25 years.

“Sometimes the team on the pitch isn’t capable. I think they’re looking at this team now thinking: ‘We’re so close. Can we just add two or three players, experienced players, and we could be there competing.’

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“I think Enzo’s said that for the first time and the crowd’s gone, ‘We like that, that’s what we want.'”

And if they do, Crouch claims that Chelsea would “have the ability to go and win the league”.

Crouch said: “The rumours circulated about the Man City job when Pep Guardiola moves on. I think it’s a timely reminder to the board for him to get what he wants in the January window coming up.

“It’s just those inconsistencies and I think with a little bit more experience in this team, they have the ability to go and win the league.”