Chelsea have launched a surprising public assault on former head coach Enzo Maresca following his official unveiling as Manchester Metropolis’s new supervisor.
In a strongly-worded assertion, Softfootball gathered Chelsea intentionally prevented mentioning Maresca by title, as an alternative referring solely to their “former head coach” whereas explaining the circumstances surrounding his departure.
The Blues claimed they had been knowledgeable as early as autumn 2025 that the Italian was keen on succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis, believing his want to take the Etihad job in the end affected the membership’s marketing campaign.
The assertion described the 2025/26 season as “massively disappointing” and urged the disruption attributable to the managerial state of affairs performed a serious position within the marketing campaign.
The assertion:
Because of current developments, we take into account that it is very important clarify to our supporters what occurred and why our former head coach left the membership on January 1, 2026.
In autumn final 12 months, the membership was knowledgeable by our former head coach that there may be a chance for him to succeed Pep Guardiola on the finish of the season.
It turned clear to us that it was his robust want to succeed Guardiola and that he was absolutely dedicated to pursuing the chance, regardless of the actual fact he was underneath a long-term contract which he had no proper to terminate.
In December 2025, our head coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his place. Clearly, we felt let down as we believed that his head and coronary heart had been targeted on one other membership and one other alternative, regardless of having simply arrived at Chelsea the 12 months earlier than.
No membership needs to alter its head coach halfway via a season. Nonetheless, in gentle of his choice to not proceed fulfilling his duties via to the top of the season, the membership was left with no alternative however to guard our gamers, our supporters and the badge and settle for his resignation.
In the meantime, Maresca has formally taken cost of Manchester Metropolis as Pep Guardiola’s successor, with the Italian starting a brand new chapter on the Etihad Stadium.
