Enzo Maresca wanted to QUIT Chelsea before sacking and spoke to two rival clubs
Chelsea announced Enzo Maresca’s departure after a tumultuous few days at Stamford Bridge, but Mirror Football understands the manager also made it clear he wanted to leave
Enzo Maresca felt he was not able to do the Chelsea job in the way he wanted. Chelsea have said publicly that they wanted to “make a change” to get the club’s season “back on track.”
But it is understood that Maresca had also decided to quit and the last 24 hours have been trying to find a solution as the Italian’s contract ran until 2029.
Chelsea feared that Maresca ignored medical advice on players which was leaving them vulnerable to injury. But Maresca felt he was being encouraged to make changes to give young players a chance, especially in Europe and the domestic cups.
His comment about the “worst 48 hours” came in relation to the two days after a defeat at Atalanta when Chelsea made wholesale changes for the game which they lost 2-1.
Rather than player fatigue or injuries, Maresca felt he was being encouraged to make changes to fit with the club model of developing, buying and promoting young players and to ensure they got minutes.
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The club has a policy of buying and selling players which has led to a high turnover of stars but it also means they have to play to keep their value up.
It is difficult for managers to plan exactly when to make changes during games and Maresca was even booed when he substituted Cole Palmer against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Palmer has struggled for fitness since the Club World Cup in the summer and they have been trying to protect his minutes and game time to stop him suffering more injuries.
Maresca did also deliver trophies last season with the Club World Cup, the Europa Conference League as well as guiding them back into the top four.
The Italian’s lack of profile has not helped but he was willing to do more and yet felt that was not being encouraged by the club. Maresca also informed the club about interest from Juventus and Manchester City but insisted he was fully committed to Chelsea.
Liam Rosenior is the leading candidate to be Chelsea’s next boss. Rosenior is an odds-on favourite with the bookies and is already in charge of Strasbourg who are owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo.
The 41-year-old, has big admirers within the Chelsea hierarchy for his style of football, personality and man-management style.
Chelsea are looking to make an appointment to replace Maresca as soon as possible but it is likely that assistant Willy Caballero will take the team for the trip to Manchester City on Sunday.
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