Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea face criticism after a chaotic week, but the manager insists experience is key as they draw 2-2 with Newcastle.

Enzo Maresca’s week hasn’t been the most straightforward, to say the least. Speculation about his future at Chelsea has littered the news all week, but the Italian insists it’s not affecting his squad.

However, the shocking first half performance in the 2-2 draw to Newcastle says otherwise.

Before the match, Maresca dropped a hint that he wants more experienced players on the pitch. “Having players with experience is invaluable,” he said.

The first half saw Chelsea almost throw the game away but the second half was a different story. Reece James’s stunning free-kick and Joao Pedro’s brilliant goal had Chelsea level-pegging with Newcastle. The atmosphere was electric, and for a while, it felt like Chelsea were going to snatch a much-needed win.

Despite the improvement, Chelsea’s inconsistency is starting to become a major concern. They’re stuck in fourth place, and with half the Premier League closing in, they can’t afford to drop points. Maresca’s squad needs to find some consistency, and fast.

When asked about his post-match comments from last week, Maresca played it cool. “My last week has not been complicated. It has been good,” he said. However, he focused on the positives which includes beating Everton, beating Cardiff, and drawing with Newcastle.

AgainstNewcastle today, Chelsea fought back and showed character but they can’t rely on character alone; they need to start playing like a top-four team consistently.

The pressure’s mounting, and Chelsea’s next few games are crucial. They face Pafos and Napoli in the Champions League, and they’ll need all the experience they can get to navigate these tricky waters.