Enzo Maresca has publicly broken his silence for the first time since his bitter departure from Chelsea on New Year's Day. The 45-year-old Italian manager left the West London club following an explosive dispute with the ownership, with a power struggle at the heart of his exit.
A Peaceful Farewell Amidst the Storm
Despite the acrimonious nature of his dismissal, Maresca's first public message struck a conciliatory tone. In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, he shared a reflective note, beginning with the quote: 'Leave this world a little better than you found it.'
He reflected on his 18-month tenure, stating: 'I leave with the inner peace of leaving a prestigious club like Chelsea where it deserves to be.' Maresca expressed gratitude to the Chelsea supporters, crediting their crucial support in achieving Champions League qualification, winning the Conference League, and conquering the Club World Cup. 'Victories that I will always carry in my heart,' he added.
The former manager also issued a special thanks to the players and wished everyone associated with the club success for the rest of the season and the future, signing off with: 'Thank you, CHELSEA ???? from me and my family.'
The Club's Damning Allegations
Maresca's dignified statement stands in stark contrast to Chelsea's official reasoning for his dismissal. The club reported that his behaviour in his final days was 'unprofessional' and 'disrespectful', questioning his professionalism in a public spat.
Club hierarchy were reportedly unimpressed by three key episodes:
- His decision to miss Tuesday's post-match press conference, claiming illness. The club believes he was not sick and considered the move unprofessional, disrespectful, and unfair to Willy Caballero, who had to deputise.
- A disregard for medical advice regarding players returning from injury, allegedly playing them for excessive periods.
- Media reports linking Maresca with a return to Manchester City, where he previously worked under Pep Guardiola.
Chelsea also claimed Maresca lacked 'mental fortitude and emotional maturity'. His departure follows a turbulent period where the team won just one of their last seven Premier League matches, with his final game being a 2-2 home draw against Bournemouth.
A New Era Begins at Stamford Bridge
The fallout appears to have been brewing. Maresca had previously lost his composure in a spectacular outburst, claiming he had lived through 'his worst 48 hours' after a victory over Everton. It is believed this statement was related to serious friction between the manager and the medical department over the management of injured players.
Chelsea have moved swiftly to appoint a successor, confirming Liam Rosenior as the new head coach today, arriving from Strasbourg. The club's leadership evidently felt a change was necessary to stabilise the season, closing a contentious chapter under Enzo Maresca.
