Chelsea have had a slow start to the Premier League season(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA, Getty Images)

Chelsea legend Joe Cole believes Enzo Maresca could soon face pressure from the Blues' hierarchy should the Italian fail to mount a title challenge this season.

The former Leicester City manager only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer and enjoyed a productive debut campaign.

He secured the UEFA Conference League trophy, achieved a top-four finish and also claimed the FIFA Club World Cup. However, Cole believes that might not prove sufficient for the club's ownership this season.

Speaking to Paddy Power, he said: "This is season four under this ownership. There are two trophies, albeit new trophies that don't carry the same weight as a Premier League, an FA Cup, a Champions League, or even a League Cup.

"But they have delivered trophies, and they've restructured the whole club financially.

"This season, the expectation has to be for Chelsea to comfortably get into the Champions League position and mount a challenge in the league.

"I don't think the squad's strong enough to compete with Arsenal. I'm...