chelsea have confirmed they have parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca ahead of Sunday’s match Manchester City,
Maresca’s 18-month tenure at Stamford Bridge ends after one win from seven Premier League The games left his team fifth in the table, although sources told ESPN that the primary reason for his exit was a breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy.
Chelsea’s official statement on Thursday did not say that Maresca had been sacked, but rather that “Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”
His exit was confirmed in a 99-word statement following talks about his future.
Sources said the club’s hierarchy had become concerned with Maresca’s behaviour, with the 45-year-old Maresca becoming increasingly public in demonstrating his dissatisfaction with Chelsea’s ownership.
Maresca claimed last month that he had experienced the “worst 48 hours” of his time at the club while preparing for a 2–0 win. everton,
Maresca repeatedly declined to elaborate on that outburst, but sources told ESPN it reflected growing unease with his working conditions as opposed to a one-time outburst behind the scenes.
Sources also said that Maresca’s public comments surprised members of his own staff.
Chelsea have not confirmed who will be in the dugout for Sunday’s crucial clash with City, although Willy Caballero is likely to lead the side after replacing Maresca amid the Premier League suspension.
For the longer term, sources have told ESPN that Liam Rosenior, in charge of Bleu-owned Strasbourg, is a contender – while Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner is not in the running.
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Maresca’s last game was a draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday, when he was criticized at Stamford Bridge after a 2–2 draw. Maresca faced chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” from fans when selecting a substitute. cole palmer,
He did not even attend the press conference after the match. The official explanation given at the time was that Maresca was “sick”.
Maresca, who joined Chelsea in July 2024, led the club back to Champions League football by finishing fourth in the Premier League in his first season, as well as winning the Conference League title and the inaugural Club World Cup.
His contract was due to run until 2029, with the club having an option for a further 12 months.
Sources have told ESPN that despite reports linking Maresca to Manchester City in the event of Pep Guardiola’s departure as manager, the Etihad club consider these links to be nothing more than speculation as they have no position to fill.
Information from ESPN’s Mark Ogden was used in this report.
