Joe Cole Criticizes Chelsea Star and Sends Warning to Enzo Maresca
Chelsea legend Joe Cole delivered a scathing critique of Enzo Maresca’s game management following a tense match at Stamford Bridge. Speaking after the game, Cole highlighted a key issue that almost cost Chelsea the match.
“Maresca needs to step up and learn the art of timely substitutions when players aren’t delivering,” Cole stated. “Today’s performance exposed a glaring weakness—one player was off from the first whistle, and it nearly cost us the game. Keeping him on for so long killed the rhythm entirely. Subbing dead weight earlier could have saved us from this mess. Today’s game was too close for comfort.”
While Cole refrained from naming the player, fans were quick to speculate on social media, pointing fingers at one star who endured a night to forget. Missing clear chances, obstructing Cole Palmer’s shot, and generally underperforming, the individual left fans frustrated.
Chelsea narrowly escaped with the win, but the performance left questions hanging over Maresca’s decision-making. Cole’s warning serves as a reminder that even top managers must adapt and respond quickly during matches. With fixtures piling up, Chelsea can’t afford such lapses. For Maresca, mastering substitutions might be the key to thriving at the elite level.
