Enzo Maresca is expected to part company with Chelsea on New Year’s Day after a complete breakdown of relationships behind the scenes and some inflammatory comments
Enzo Maresca is reportedly close to leaving his job as Chelsea manager following a complete breakdown in relationships behind the scenes. Maresca has cut a frustrated figure in recent weeks and a run of one win in the last seven Premier League games is likely to spark his exit.
Chelsea drew 2-2 with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night and left the pitch to some boos from the home fans. Maresca subsequently skipped the post-match press conference, sending assistant Willy Caballero to speak to the media instead.
The explanation given was that the Italian had fallen ill, but talkSPORT have now reported that Maresca was instead making clear his unhappiness. He has butted heads with the Chelsea hierarchy and does not feel supported and an emergency meeting with sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley and co-owner Behdad Eghbali will take place on New Year’s Day.
The Guardian reports that a parting of ways is expected on Thursday and that Maresca will not be in charge for Sunday’s away game against Manchester City. Whether the 45-year-old walks away without a pay-off remains to be seen, given he is under contract until 2029, with the option of a further year.
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Signs of fractures were clear earlier this month when Maresca spoke after a 2-0 win over Everton and said: “Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn’t support us.”
Asked to clarify his comments, he simply repeated: “Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn’t support me and the team.”
His very obvious hints towards unhappiness with his employers has caused friction behind the scenes at Chelsea, while a downturn in results have amplified things. Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
The Guardian reports that, while they have been bewildered by the pace of the deteriorating situation, Chelsea do have a contingency plan in place. French side Strasbourg are part of the same ownership group and their manager, Liam Rosenior, has been impressing with his work there.
Maresca has been in charge at Stamford Bridge since June 2024 and enjoyed a strong 2024/25 campaign as he won the Conference League and Club World Cup. Chelsea finished fourth in the league and returned to the Champions League, where they currently sit 13th with three wins from six games, but issues have been bubbling below the surface.
Some of the tension is understood to have come from Maresca’s desire to have a greater say in decisions away from the pitch, including transfers. But Chelsea are unwilling to alter their structure to appease their manager and it seems that the problems are irrevocable.
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