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Wayne Rooney likened Enzo Maresca's comments in a press conference over the weekend to Mohamed Salah's remarks in the Elland Road mixed zone earlier this month.
Maresca raised eyebrows in the Stamford Bridge press room after Chelsea's 2-0 win over Everton when he claimed that the previous 48 hours had been the worst of his Chelsea reign.
Maresca told reporters: “The last 48 hours have been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn’t support us."
Many interpreted that comment as Maresca firing shots in the direction of his bosses after Chelsea went on a four-game run without a win leading up to the game against Everton.
Rooney addressed Maresca's comments in a new episode of his BBC podcast, and suggested that the Chelsea head coach's remarks were premeditated – just as Salah's seemed to be in the Elland Road mixed zone earlier this month, when the Egyptian claimed that Liverpool had thrown him under the bus after a run of three Premier League games in which he was left out of the starting line-up.
“For me it was very similar to the Mo Salah situation last week where it was very premeditated," Rooney said.
“He knows exactly what he is saying and who he is aiming it at and the board and owners at Chelsea will know it is aimed at them.
“You’ve got to respect the owners of a football club. They employ you and bring you in, so it’s their way and I feel he’s gone a bit against that.
“It is something that’s clearly happened, whether it’s a disagreement or he feels his job is under pressure and he doesn’t feel it should be because of the two trophies he’s won and the points he’s picked up.
“I don’t feel like he’s a manager that will backtrack. He has got a passion about him and a drive about him. Whether he has heard things, like the club might want him out and he’s been proactive to go on the front foot, you don’t know why he’s done it. It’s very strange.
“I don’t think he’ll get the protection now he’s come out and done what he has done. That will be very difficult for the club to come and protect him, which is a shame.”
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