Can Maresca survive at Chelsea without Champions League?

The Athletic FC Podcast

The Athletic

Football, Soccer,, Sports, Soccer

4 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2025

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

They left it late, but Chelsea grabbed a crucial win in their bid to secure a top five finish, as Tyrique George and Pedro Neto saw the Blues come from behind to win 2-1 at Fulham. Victory at Craven Cottage keeps them in the mix for a return to European football’s elite competition next season. But with fan discontent growing, how important is Champions League qualification for Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea future? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey to discuss the importance of the win as well as our football correspondent David Ornstein to analyse the pressure on Maresca and look ahead to the summer transfer window. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Twomey and David Ornstein Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Our partners at Betfair relish the plot twist that football's tents run and delivers.
0:05.1	With titles, promotions and relegation on the line, the formbook can take a back seat,
0:09.0	and the drama has the power to rewrite the scripts.
0:11.5	So get a free £10 bet when you bet 10 pounds on Ackers or Bet Builders on football this week.
0:16.6	Betfair, play different.
0:18.2	Opt-in and previous deposit required valid for for 72 hours on football hackers and bet builders.
0:22.4	Minimum combined odds 1.5.
0:24.0	T's and C's apply. It's 18 plus only and please be gamble aware.org.
0:30.3	The Athletic FC Podcast Network.
0:36.5	Welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Ayok Akim Willow.
0:40.5	They left it late, but Chelsea grabbed a crucial win in their bid to secure a top five finish.
0:46.2	Pedro Neto, brilliant finish.
0:50.1	A stunning strike from Pedro Netto who charges towards the Chelsea fans.
0:56.3	Victory of Craven Cottage keeps them in the mix for a return to European football's elite
1:01.1	competition next season.
1:02.2	But with fan discontent growing, how important is Champions League qualification for Enzo Moreska's
1:08.2	Chelsea Future?
1:12.2	Here with us today, we have our Chelsea correspondent, Liam Toomey, who was at Craven Cottage
1:17.0	as Chelsea eventually got the job done and will be joined later by David Ornstein as well.
1:23.2	Right, Liam, two goals in the final seven minutes to turn it around.
1:29.1	What did Chelsea's celebrations tell us about the relief of that win? And I guess it probably showed a little bit of resilience
1:34.2	in this squad as well, didn't it? Well, I maybe didn't see everything of the wild celebrations
	...

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