Beating Barca was his biggest mistake”, “Changing coaches every 3 months
Chelsea has officially announced the departure of head coach Enzo Maresca, ending their relationship mutually. Maresca took over from Mauricio Pochettino a season and a half ago, leading the team to two titles during his tenure. However, his recent form has been underwhelming, with only two wins in his last nine games in charge, including three losses and four draws.
The decision to part ways with Maresca came after he made cryptic remarks about a lack of support from the club’s executives following a win over Everton on December 13th. This breakdown in their relationship ultimately led to the Italian coach’s exit from Chelsea.
Fans have expressed mixed reactions to Maresca’s departure, with some pointing out that beating Barcelona in November was a mistake, while others criticized the club for its frequent hiring and firing of coaches. Some fans blamed co-owner Behdad Eghbali for the club’s issues, while others thanked Maresca for the Club World Cup triumph in the summer and considered him the best manager since Thomas Tuchel.
Despite having a contract with Chelsea until 2029, Maresca leaves with over three years remaining on his deal. In his 92 matches in charge, he won 55 games and guided the team to victory in the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, as well as qualification for the UEFA Champions League in his first season.
Reports suggest that Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior is a strong contender to replace Maresca at Chelsea. Rosenior led the French club to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 in his first season, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot. The Englishman has experience working with Hull City and as an assistant to Wayne Rooney at Derby County. He is also familiar with some Chelsea players, having played with Andrey Santos during a loan spell in France.
Rosenior is reportedly being considered by Chelsea to take over at Stamford Bridge, with his success at Strasbourg making him an attractive option. It remains to be seen if he will be the one to lead Chelsea forward after Maresca’s departure.
