#managerial-pressure

#managerial-pressure

The room is named after Ted Drake, the author of Chelsea's first title, and features images of a host of club legends: a beaming Carlo Ancelotti, one of Antonio Conte kissing the Premier League trophy and, as Enzo Maresca no doubt noted as he arrived to preview his young side's Champions League tie with Benfica, three photographs of the manager whose latest return to west London conjures wistful memories of the days when Chelsea were the most feared team in England.

Unai Emery's position as head coach of Aston Villa is increasingly under the microscope, as reported by Spanish media sources. Despite leading the club to impressive highs last season, securing Champions League football for the first time in decades, Villa have endured a rocky start to the new campaign. With results falling far short of expectations, speculation is growing that Emery may soon face the exit door if performances do not improve swiftly.

France and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, 30, could be on Chelsea's transfer agenda again in the next window following 27-year-old Spaniard Robert Sanchez's performance against Manchester United. He is free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January as his current deal expires next summer, and was wanted by the Blues in the summer. (Daily Express), external Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has urged midfielder Carlos Baleba to remain grounded despite rumours of a move, with Manchester United interested in signing the 21-year-old Cameroon international

Pressley outlined the immense pressure on any manager to secure victories, stating, "Whether you are the manager of Rangers or Celtic, or whether you are the manager at Dundee, your supporters generally turn up on a Saturday afternoon expecting you to win." He acknowledged the typical fluctuations in public opinion towards managerial performance, saying, "All I can do is continue to work hard with my staff, with our players and hopefully in time begin to convince people that we can do something that is right here."

"Xabi has learned from some of the best coaches in history, so he can take all their ideas and mix them together," he told BBC Sport. "He also had a strong influence at home during his childhood, because his father Periko was a great player for Real Sociedad."