Alan Shearer shares damning Chelsea verdict in brutal Enzo Maresca claim

Premier League icon Alan Shearer has delivered a scathing assessment of Chelsea, describing Enzo Maresca's side as a 'tough watch'. Pressure is building on the Italian despite the Blues competing for European qualification and into the UEFA Conference League semi-final.

Chelsea were booed off after their 2-1 defeat to Poland giants Legia Warsaw and it followed the jeers during their 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town, after the Blues came from two goals down against the relegation-threatened side.

Maresca could be further under pressure should Chelsea fail to beat their London rivals on Sunday. Chelsea has slipped out of the major European places following wins for Aston Villa and Manchester City.

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And Shearer believes it could be fresh disappointment and a new blow to their European hopes against Fulham, who overcame runaway leaders Liverpool at the beginning of April.

"Chelsea are a tough watch at the minute," he told .

"Usually I go for a draw in derbies, but I'll go for a Fulham win in this one."

A win could see Chelsea return to the Champions League places, above Villa and Nottingham Forest due to their superior goal difference.

Amid the growing scrutiny, Maresca has remained defiant over his squad's capabilities.

"We are in a semi-final of a European competition. So why now we need to change something?" said Maresca.

"I think I don't have any doubt about what we are doing, in the way we are doing, and for different reasons.

"In the last two years, Chelsea has been zero times top four, top five.

"This season we spent all season, almost all season, top four, top five, in the Champions League spots."

The former Leicester boss added: "At this moment [of the season], there is no bad time to play.

"There is only the right time to play a game.

"We have six Premier League games plus the two semi-final matches, so we have eight official games to play at the moment and they are all important.

"Now is the moment to go, if we want to reach something.

"Chelsea is a big club, a huge club, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"So it’s normal that you have pressure. When you decide to sign for Chelsea, you have to think you are under pressure because it’s Chelsea.

"It’s the same for the manager, no doubt.

"So if we have a game away and there is worry [about that], we are in the wrong way."