Chelsea make Enzo Maresca sack decision after Brighton defeat and dressing room visit

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca's future is secure at Stamford Bridge despite growing discontent over the Blues' recent performances. The Italian coach's fate will be decided at the end of the season, with any assessment of his position not due to take place until then, according to the Telegraph.

The west London side have seen the sheen start to wear off their Conference League and Club World Cup successes after a frustrating start to the season. Chelsea have not tasted victory in the Premier League in September and have recorded successive losses against Manchester United and Brighton — Maresca's side have also lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League and suffered a scare against Lincoln before progressing in the Carabao Cup this month.

Co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbahli, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and club chiefs Joe Shields and Sam Jewell were all in attendance for Chelsea's defeat to Brighton. The group headed straight to the home dressing room following the loss.

• Enzo Maresca explains what happened in Chelsea dressing room with Behdad Eghbali after Brighton
• Turning point for Chelsea and Enzo Maresca with telling moment at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea saw a 1-0 lead disappear after Trevoh Chalobah was sent off, and the Seagulls scored three goals via a Danny Welbeck brace and an effort from Maxim De Cuyper. Maresca, as he did against United, faced criticism for his tactical decisions once going down to 10 men.

While there is plenty of uncertainty outside of the club, Chelsea bosses are not panicking and believe goals of finishing in the top four and challenging in cup competitions remain realistic. The Blues have still only lost four times in the league since the end of February.

Following the game against Brighton, Maresca explained the visit of Eghbali and the sporting directors. They have been inside the changing room like always," he said.

"We have an office inside the changing room where after every game we sit and talk about the game, but they didn't say nothing to the players, it was nothing, completely different compared to the rest of the team. "

Maresca had a clear message for his players however. They cannot keep shooting themselves in the foot.

"The message that we just said inside has been quite clear: against any team in the Premier League you cannot continue to give away presents, because what we are doing in this moment is to give away presents in terms of red cards, that is a big mistake because the game completely changed," he said in his press conference.

"For sure we need to learn, and we need to learn quick, so the reason why it can be a mix of experience or a mix of simple mistakes, then in terms of injury," he added. "I think that if you just watch first-half today, you don't think about the injured players.

"Because first-half again we were in control, dominating the game, and then, again, I would like to tell you something different, but at the end it's the reality of the last two games, unfortunately with two red cards everything changed."

Chelsea next host fan-favourite manager Jose Mourinho, who arrives at Stamford Bridge in charge of Benfica. The Portuguese coach has praised Mareesca's efforts.

"Maresca arrived and step by step, the puzzle was made," Mourinho said. "Even the Conference League is a fantastic competition for a team like that to win.

"It gives you that first cup and the philosophy and the culture of the club for winning. If you cannot win the Premier League you win something, so they won the Conference League. Then they go to the States and come back with the big badge on the chest so now they have a good, good team."