Is Enzo Maresca being hard done to by suggestions he is under pressure?

Chelsea have had an average starting XI age in the Premier League of just 24.1 years, tied with Sunderland as the youngest, according to Transfermarkt.

The Blues have deliberately built a young squad, the only one in the Premier League not to have featured a player over 30 in a matchday squad.

However, this youth could be linked to both mistakes and indiscipline, and Chelsea have also faced criticism for the quality of their defence and goalkeepers.

After a defeat at Manchester United, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said: “You can’t turn up at Old Trafford with the goalkeeper and centre-backs you’ve got. That just can’t win you the league.”

Sanchez has made a league-high 10 mistakes leading to shots and five leading to goals since the start of last season yet his deputy, Filip Jorgensen, also underperformed against Lincoln last week.

Chelsea are understood to remain content about a decision to not sign AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan for £25m, with Sanchez retaining the backing of the hierarchy and his manager.

Maresca requested a new central defender after Levi Colwill required surgery for a serious knee injury in August, but Chelsea wanted him to use the squad’s existing options.

Chelsea had already explored the market for central defenders but signed only Ajax’s Jorrel Hato – ahead of Piero Hincapie, who was also considered but now plays for Arsenal.

Chelsea also admired Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi but watched on as Liverpool’s deal for the defender collapsed on deadline day and believe they didn’t miss any game-changing options signed by league rivals.

Additionally, Chelsea want to maintain pathways for players out on loan such as Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders and defender Mamadou Sarr, along with Dortmund defender Aaron Anselmino.

Nevertheless, it remains debatable whether Chelsea’s youthful squad is strong enough to win the league while meeting the increased demands of competing in the Champions League for the first time in two and a half years.