What Enzo Maresca has said about Man Utd will please Old Trafford board

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca previously spoke glowingly about Manchester United and is now among the candidates to replace Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca spoke in glowing terms about Manchester United whilst still in the dugout at Stamford Bridge and his comments are unlikely to have gone unnoticed by decision-makers at Old Trafford. Maresca's name has surfaced in relation to the United position following Ruben Amorim's departure, though he remains just one of several contenders.

The Italian's Chelsea exit was confirmed on New Year's Day, despite the Blues sitting higher than United in the Premier League standings, with Amorim dismissed by United less than a week later. Maresca may have previous associations with United's rivals Manchester City, where he served on Pep Guardiola's coaching team, but this hasn't stopped him being named among the contenders to become Amorim's permanent replacement.

This isn't the first occasion such speculation has arisen. Maresca was linked with the United role during summer 2024 prior to his Chelsea appointment, and addressed those rumours in September before taking Chelsea to Old Trafford.

Whilst reaffirming his dedication to Chelsea, having embarked on his second season with the Blues, he also offered words of admiration for their opponents. "I think Manchester United is a big club, they have a big manager and no doubt that they are going to do important things with Ruben," he said.

"The only thing I can say is that I really appreciate Ruben. I've watched Ruben's games since he was in Sporting. He's a magnificent manager."

The acknowledgement that United are a major club is precisely the sentiment those overseeing the appointment will want to hear, while there was recognition of the quality in United's squad. Amorim, in contrast, had expressed concern in January that the current squad was the worst Manchester United team in history and didn't shy away from vocal criticism throughout his tenure.

Moreover, Maresca has direct ties with both director of football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada. The pair were part of the Manchester City project during the Italian's stint at the club, giving them a little more insight on whether or not he has the qualities they're after when deciding on Amorim's successor.

Following his September 2025 comments, however, Maresca was unable to do the damage against Amorim's team at Old Trafford. Chelsea couldn't fully recover from an early red card for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in a game which ultimately ended 10 against 10, with United securing a 2-1 victory.

For now, it seems United are prepared to take their time in making the right permanent appointment. Darren Fletcher will be in charge for Wednesday's match at Burnley and could remain in position longer as the decision makers weigh up their options.

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is another name linked with the role, although appointing the Austrian might not be as simple as a move for free agent Maresca. However, one clear supporter of Glasner is Ralf Rangnick - United's former interim boss who appeared poised to play a larger role behind the scenes at Old Trafford before leaving to take the Austria job.

Back in 2023, Rangnick praised Glasner's gradual progression, describing it as "a prime example of how a coach's career should develop". Fast forward to the present, and the 51 year old has moved on from Eintracht Frankfurt to take the reins at Crystal Palace and demonstrate his quality in the Premier League.

His tenure has already seen success, with the London club clinching their first major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the previous season's FA Cup final. Whether he would be able to turn down an approach from United is another matter.