Chelsea director insists Enzo Maresca is '100 per cent' safe and claims the club remain 'optimistic' of securing Champions League qualification

Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein says Enzo Maresca is ‘100 per cent’ safe as he became the first Blues chief to publicly back the Italian, adding they are ‘optimistic’ they can make it into the Champions League positions this season. 

Goldstein appeared on Bloomberg TV in his capacity as the head of real estate investment firm Cain International to discuss a $300million boost they had secured from VICI Properties to help develop One Beverly Hills, an ultra-luxury $5.2billion resort set for Los Angeles. 

At the end of his interview, however, talk turned to Chelsea as Goldstein was asked on the club’s current state under Maresca after a slump in the second half of their season. ‘He’s doing a great job,’ Goldstein said. 

‘Chelsea started the season very well. The last six weeks have been, you know, finding their feet a little bit more. 

‘But Enzo has clearly done a great job in bringing the team together, bringing the talent through.’ Reminded that Chelsea are sixth, he continued: 

‘And we’re very optimistic for the rest of the season in how that plays out.’ Chelsea know that a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League is likely to be enough to qualify for the Champions League. 

Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein has become the first Blues chief to publicly back the Italian

The Blues have fallen to sixth in the Premier League after winning just two of their last nine matches

They face two games in four days next, as they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday and then host Southampton on Tuesday. 

Asked if Maresca will continue in his job for the remainder of the season, Goldstein answered: ‘One hundred per cent.’