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Chelsea take on Manchester City this evening as the Blues begin their life without Enzo Maresca following his departure on New Year's Day
New Year's Eve is supposed to be a joyous occasion, full of celebrations, laughter and excitement, but that was not the case for Enzo Maresca and Chelsea.
Hours of intense conversations between the now former head coach and senior officials at the west London club on the final night of 2025 led to an inevitable outcome. Maresca was let go.
The Italian was not happy with the conditions he was working in and felt at times as if he was being micromanaged. Chelsea, meanwhile, were not happy with how Maresca was conducting himself at times, whether that was in front of the press or behind the scenes. The former Blues boss fell out with the club's medical department over the fitness and availability of players — and how Maresca sometimes used players against expert advice.
Maresca also informed the club he - as his contract at Stamford Bridge obliged him to do - had spoken to Manchester City and Juventus. There was no real concern of Maresca leaving, with Chelsea made aware that Maresca would be willing to discuss a possible contract extension.
Though senior officials at Chelsea felt Maresca's flirting with other clubs was a bit disrespectful. It was clear Man City were trying their best to unsettle the coach.
Pep Guardiola came out just a few weeks ago to shower Maresca with praise, saying: "One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him quite well but, the job he has done at Chelsea does not get enough credit."
City representatives held talks with Maresca, who worked under Guardiola during the historic treble-winning 2022/23 campaign, twice in late-October and again in mid-December.
If City's intention was to lay down the foundations for Maresca to one day succeed Guardiola, the first part of their plan is now done. Maresca was 18 months into a contract that ran until 2029, with the option for that to be extended by a year, at Stamford Bridge. Just 27 days after Guardiola said what he said, Maresca left Chelsea.
Guardiola was inevitably asked about Maresca's departure during his pre-Chelsea press conference on Friday. The City boss said: "All I can say is that from my point of view, Chelsea have lost an incredible manager and an incredible person.
"It's a decision from the Chelsea hierarchy so I have nothing to say. How lucky I am in the club where I am. My club is extraordinary.
"I have a contract. I've said a thousand million times. I know you're bored of me, I've been here for 10 years and I promise you I will leave one day but I have a contract, I'm happy, I want to fight with my team, the hierarchy respect me - they proved last season when we didn’t win one game in three months and they supported me.”
Maresca joined Jorge Mendes' Gestifute agency back in October with the Italian believing the change in representation would help prove himself among the top coaches in European football. Mendes worked with Maresca on New Year's Eve to help secure an appropriate exit package for the 45-year-old, with Chelsea also believing a change was best for all parties.
The irony is, Chelsea begin life post-Maresca with a trip to the Etihad Stadium this evening. Calum McFarlane, who left Man City to further his career after three years in Manchester, will take charge of Chelsea. Coming up against Guardiola, who he has never met before, starts to life in professional football could not come any trickier for the Under-21s head coach.
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