Enzo Maresca is expected to leave Chelsea after a complete breakdown in his relationship with the club. Emergency talks are set to take place on Thursday, with sources indicating the Italian manager is likely to be sacked before Sunday's trip to Manchester City. Maresca was booed by fans during Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, and Chelsea have won only one of their last seven league games.
The former Leicester boss has been under scrutiny for his conduct off the pitch, particularly after making cryptic comments about experiencing his “worst 48 hours” at the club following a victory over Everton on 13 December. Those remarks baffled Chelsea officials and strained relations. Maresca has repeatedly refused to explain the comments, and whispers about behind-the-scenes issues have intensified.
Further tension arose when Maresca claimed he felt too unwell to conduct his post-match press conference after the Bournemouth draw, leaving assistant Willy Caballero to face the media. Reports later suggested Maresca had actually made it clear he did not want to perform usual press duties, as he grew dissatisfied with elements of the Chelsea project.
Chelsea now have contingency plans in place, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior viewed as a potential successor. The club are reluctant to make mid-season changes, but the volatility around Maresca has forced their hand. If he leaves, Chelsea will be looking for their fifth permanent manager since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover in 2022.
