Chelsea Champions League verdict given as Enzo Maresca criticism addressed

Chelsea returned to the Champions League after qualification last season and the Blues have been tipped to finish in the top four

Former Premier League winger Jermaine Pennant has tipped Chelsea to qualify for the Champions League. The 42-year-old admitted that he has been surprised by the criticism aimed at Enzo Maresca after a successful debut season at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian guided the Blues to UUEFA Conference League success and a return to elite European competition after finishing in the top four. They've made a strong start in the latest Premier League campaign as they sit just one point off Sunderland, who currently occupy the final Champions League place.

Chelsea recovered from an indifferent spell at the beginning of the season to pick up important wins over reigning champions Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur.

Bournemouth, Spurs, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Aston Villa are all pushing as the standings continue to take shape.

The Magpies, who finished fifth last season, have had a difficult start this term and find themselves in the bottom half. Pennant believes Newcastle's away form will hinder their chances of qualifying for Europe via the top-four and believes Chelsea have the tools to make it successive qualifications in the Champions League.

“I would say, their [Newcastle] home form is good but I can’t see them finishing in the top four. Not the way Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City are playing, that fourth spot you’re maybe looking at Chelsea," he said exclusively speaking to football.london via NewBettingSites.uk.

"You look at the players they’ve got, they’ve got some out with injury and they’re missing their best player in Cole Palmer, that’s only going to strengthen their progress throughout the season.

"We’ve seen what they can do on a good day, it’s just about consistency. I think Moises Caicedo is doing a fantastic job, he’s like the Claude Makelele of old, I just feel with their strength in depth, they’ve got enough to be in the top four."

Maresca has faced scrutiny during his time in the dugout at Stamford Bridge. The Blues suffered defeats against United and Brighton at the beginning of the season before bouncing back with an important win over Liverpool, thanks to Estevao's winner, leading to wild celebrations and a red card for the former Leicester City boss.

Sunderland came from behind to beat Chelsea to reignite certain pressures on the Blues boss before question marks have emerged after a surprise 2-2 draw away at Qarabag in the Champions League.

However, Pennant believes Maresca has done a sterling job in west London after steadying the ship following a chaotic period at Stamford Bridge.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool star said: "A little bit surprising [Enzo Maresca criticism] because since he’s took over, he’s steadied the ship, there was a lot of chaos going on but he has got rid of the deadwood and seems like he has brought the togetherness.

"But it’s a results business, if you’re not winning games, you can easily come underfire, they’ve had some dodgy results but they’ve also had some great results.

"At the moment, they’re progressing week by week, game by game."