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Chelsea’s form under Enzo Maresca has declined sharply, putting his future in serious doubt. After a strong start, the Blues now sit seventh in the Premier League, with just two wins in their last ten games.

Their Champions League hopes hang in the balance, and Paul Merson believes failure to beat struggling Southampton and Leicester could cost Maresca his job. Chelsea also suffered an FA Cup exit to Brighton but remain favorites for the Conference League.

Despite their struggles, Chelsea have a chance to bounce back against two of the league’s worst-performing teams. However, these matches could add pressure rather than relief if results don’t go their way.

Merson’s Stark Warning

Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson issued a blunt warning: Maresca’s job is on the line. The Arsenal legend and Chelsea fan believes anything less than six points from their next two matches will see the Italian dismissed.

“If they don’t win their next two games, the manager won’t be there,” Merson said. “They’re playing against two of the worst teams in the Premier League. If they don’t win, he’ll do well to keep his job.”

Merson also stressed the importance of Champions League qualification for keeping key players like Cole Palmer. He fears Chelsea’s long-term strategy of signing players to long contracts is backfiring, as few signings—aside from Palmer—have been a success.

The Battle for the Top Five

With just eight points separating seven teams, Chelsea are still in contention for a top-five finish, which should secure Champions League qualification due to England’s strong European performance.

Despite their recent struggles, Chelsea have already beaten Southampton and Leicester this season. Both sides are on track for relegation, with Southampton having won just two of 26 league games and Leicester losing 10 of their last 11 matches.

As Chelsea prepare for these must-win fixtures, all eyes will be on Maresca. If results go against him, his time at Stamford Bridge could be over sooner than expected.