Enzo Maresca is close to leaving Chelsea after a complete breakdown in his relationship with Stamford Bridge bosses following the manager skipping a press conference when supposedly ill
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is on the verge of quitting his role or being sacked amid a complete collapse in behind-the-scenes relationships at Stamford Bridge.
Italian coach Maresca has been visibly exasperated in recent weeks and with only one win in the last seven Premier League games, his departure seems imminent. The 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday ended with a mixture of jeers from the home crowd, prompting Maresca to skip the post-match press conference, sending assistant Willy Caballero in his place.
Although the reason given was Maresca having a sudden illness, talkSPORT has reported he was actually making a point about his discontent and was not actually sick. The Italian has clashed with Chelsea’s top brass, feeling unsupported, which has led to an emergency meeting scheduled for New Year’s Day with sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, as well as co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
According to The Guardian, Maresca’s exit is expected on Thursday, and he won’t be in charge for the upcoming away match against Manchester City on Sunday. With a contract until 2029, plus a possible one-year extension, it’s unclear whether the 45-year-old will leave without a severance package.
The cracks in the relationship first surfaced earlier this month when, after a 2-0 victory over Everton, Maresca dropped a bombshell, reports the Mirror. He 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.”
When pressed to elaborate on his remarks, he simply reiterated: “Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn’t support me and the team.”
His clear indications of dissatisfaction with his bosses have stirred up trouble behind the scenes at Chelsea, while a slump in performance has only added fuel to the fire. The Blues currently sit fifth in the Premier League, trailing fourth-placed Liverpool by two points, who also have a game in hand.
The Guardian reveals that, despite being taken aback by the rapid deterioration of the situation, Chelsea do have a backup plan ready. Strasbourg, a French side under the same ownership group, and their manager, Liam Rosenior, have been making waves with their work there.
Maresca took the reins at Stamford Bridge in June 2024 and had a successful 2024/25 season, clinching the Conference League and Club World Cup titles. Chelsea secured fourth place in the league and made a comeback to the Champions League, where they currently rank 13th with three victories from six matches, but underlying issues have been simmering.
It’s understood that some of the strain stems from Maresca’s wish to have more influence over off-pitch decisions, including transfers. However, Chelsea are not prepared to modify their structure to placate their manager, suggesting that the problems may be beyond repair.