The frustration was coming through loud and clear.
“Who’s going to stay around after the final home game to see the players walk around the pitch for a lap of appreciation?” a Chelsea supporter asked as he made his way to Stamford Bridge on the London Underground on Saturday. “What’s the point of doing that after everything we have seen this season,” he continued, his friend alongside him agreeing.
Elsewhere in the carriage, with the destination of Fulham Broadway just a few stops away, there were animated discussions about how head coach Enzo Maresca could get Cole Palmer back into form, and whether he was the right man to be in charge.
Apart from the odd bewildered tourist or local going about their day, the vast majority of people in the carriage were heading to what most regarded as a ‘must-win’ match at home to Everton and the vibe, like the team’s results in 2025, was mixed.
Maresca has had a lot to say about the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge lately. The Italian praised the crowd after the 1-0 win over Tottenham at the start of the month and then appeared to hold them partly to blame for the 2-2 draw at home against Ipswich Town 10 days later.
As Chelsea’s form and performances have dipped this season, Maresca’s popularity has waned. To get a sense of the mood among fans, I watched Saturday’s crucial match from the stands rather than the usual position within the confines of the press box.
Maresca’s job was not on the line against Everton, but Chelsea’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-five finish were. Given the remaining fixtures are against Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, only three points would do, which they collected thanks to the 1-0 win that put them fifth but level on points with Forest, who have a game in hand.
A lunchtime kick-off against a dogged Everton, who went into the fixture having lost just two of their last 13 league matches under David Moyes, was not a great recipe for the upbeat atmosphere Maresca wanted. Yet in the opening minutes, there are a few more chants than usual and rounds of applause after some early promising attacks from the men in blue. “Perhaps it’s because of the nice weather,” someone nearby jokes.
The optimism comes to an abrupt end in the 10th minute when a man reacts with an expletive to Nicolas Jackson losing the ball too easily. Soon afterwards, a Chelsea corner ends with the ball being passed back to ‘keeper Robert Sanchez. Loud groans reverberate around me.
But with Romeo Lavia making his first start in midfield for three months, Chelsea are the better team and are on top. A brief period of quiet is ended when Moises Caicedo makes a great tackle and gestures for more noise. There is a loud roar in response and someone nearby exclaims: “He has been our best player this season, no doubt!”
Soon after, Chelsea are ahead and it is a move that sums up how they have been playing. Trevoh Chalobah wins possession, Enzo Fernandez plays a quick ball to Jackson and the forward finds the bottom corner with a fine shot.
Nicolas Jackson scores the winner against Everton at Stamford Bridge (Warren Little/Getty Images)
Everyone is jumping in celebration, including the individual who was not too enamoured with the centre-forward earlier on. You get the feeling that people are as happy Jackson has ended his four-month drought without finding the net as they are at Chelsea going in front. “It is an ‘I was there to see Jackson score’ moment,” someone says, laughing.
Sanchez has often been the cause of angst during Chelsea games. Suddenly, he goes down injured after colliding with Everton’s Vitalii Mykolenko and the game is stopped for a few minutes while they are both treated. Noticeably, when he gets back to his feet, everyone in the Matthew Harding Stand applauds him and he claps back, a rare warm interaction between the two camps.
Just before the interval, Sanchez takes the unusual step of just punting the ball long up the pitch rather than his customary attempt to play out from the back. “Perhaps it is because Maresca has a touchline ban and can’t shout at him,” says one amused supporter, referring to the Chelsea boss’s absence from the dugout after he picked up his third yellow card against Fulham last weekend.
Everyone seems pleased with what they have seen as they head off for some half-time refreshment but, after the break, it is a different story.
Chelsea are not playing with the same intent. An angry man, the same one from earlier, bellows at Jackson as he is muscled off the ball, and there are more expletives as Chelsea pass it backwards after getting close to Everton’s penalty area.
The nerves increase as Sanchez has to make a fine stop to deny Beto’s low shot. Just when you think there is a danger of the crowd beginning to turn, Caicedo gets everyone going again following a remarkable solo run from just outside his own area to Everton’s at the other end. His effort on goal goes well wide, but it has still served a purpose: everyone is roaring encouragement again. “Come on, Chelsea! Come on, Chelsea!” they sing.
Palmer is having another quiet game. One individual is shouting his name, pleading for him to produce some magic. It never comes. One ambitious pass from the England international’s left foot into Pedro Neto’s path is overhit and goes out for a throw-in. There is still applause, but it is of the sympathetic variety. Everyone can appreciate that the 22-year-old is going through a difficult period.
Cole Palmer endured another difficult afternoon at Stamford Bridge (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
There are just six minutes on the clock and Chelsea have the ball 30 yards out but do not seem to want to test Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. “Oh, come on, we have to get a second goal here,” one individual, struggling with the tension, says. “It’s OK,” another responds, “there is nothing wrong with keeping possession now.” And yet the latter seems to be in the minority as loud murmurs of discontent can be hard as Chelsea end up in their own half once more.
Sanchez has been getting a lot of cheers, though, as he comes to collect cross after cross. Then, there is raucous applause as he dives to his right to deny Dwight McNeil a late equaliser. “Bloody hell,” a suddenly more pale gentleman turns to say a few rows in front of me.
Loud whistles urge referee Chris Kavanagh to bring the game to an end as Everton make one last foray forward. The visitors’ attack comes to nothing and victory is secured. Everyone seems to be satisfied with what they have seen as they head toward the exits.
So, the mission on the day was accomplished. But, you suspect, Maresca needs more results going his way from now until the end of the season to win over the doubters. Next up in the Premier League? Champions Liverpool. He will certainly need the crowd on his side then.
(Top photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)