Enzo Maresca spoke to two rival clubs and wanted to quit Chelsea before sacking

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca have parted ways by mutual consent after 18 months

Enzo Maresca felt he was unable to fulfil his role as Chelsea manager in the manner he desired.

Chelsea have publicly stated their intention to "make a change" in order to get their season "back on track."

However, it's understood that Maresca had also chosen to step down, with the past 24 hours spent seeking a resolution given that his contract was set to run until 2029.

There were concerns within Chelsea that Maresca was disregarding medical advice regarding players, potentially increasing their risk of injury.

Yet, Maresca believed he was being urged to implement changes to provide opportunities for younger players, particularly in European and domestic cup competitions.

His reference to the "worst 48 hours" pertained to the period following a loss to Atalanta, during which Chelsea made extensive changes for the subsequent match, resulting in a 2-1 defeat.

Maresca felt the pressure to make these alterations was not due to player fatigue or injuries, but rather to align with the club's strategy of nurturing, purchasing and promoting young talent, ensuring they received adequate playing time.

The club's policy of frequent player trading has resulted in a high turnover of stars, necessitating regular game time to maintain their market value.

This makes it challenging for managers to strategically plan substitutions during matches, a fact highlighted when Maresca faced boos for substituting Cole Palmer in Tuesday's match against Bournemouth.

Palmer has been battling fitness issues since the Club World Cup in the summer, and efforts have been made to manage his playing time to prevent further injuries.

Last season, Maresca led the team to victory in the Club World Cup and the UEFA Conference League, as well as steering them back into the Premier League's top four.

Despite his relatively low profile, the Italian was eager to contribute more but felt that the club wasn't encouraging this.

Maresca also made the club aware of interest from Juventus and Manchester City, but affirmed his complete commitment to Chelsea at the time.