Enzo Maresca Leaves Chelsea Amid Governance Clashes and Speculation of Manchester City Talks
Enzo Maresca's tenure as Chelsea manager ended abruptly around New Year's Eve 2025 following significant clashes with the club's board over core governance issues. Chelsea maintain a recruitment-led structure with a strategic emphasis led by Behdad Eghbali, which clashed with Maresca's approach.
The tensions reportedly began after a win over Everton and escalated after a 20 December 2025 draw with Newcastle, leading Chelsea to warn Maresca that his position could become untenable if the behaviour continued. Maresca alleged interference from above and lack of support from "many people," particularly relating to medical load management, though Chelsea countered that they never dictated tactics and implemented a rotation policy to manage a demanding schedule.
Chelsea rotated players heavily under Maresca to manage injuries to key players such as Lavia and Essugo, increasing reliance on Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, and overusing João Pedro. Maresca also notably refused to conduct a post-match press conference after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, which Chelsea cited as illness but was widely interpreted as a sign he was considering his options and foreshadowing dismissal.
Compounding the friction, Maresca allegedly informed Chelsea bosses that he had spoken to Manchester City on three occasions about replacing Pep Guardiola. Chelsea dismissed Maresca shortly thereafter; Liam Rosenior is expected to take charge for their next game against Manchester City. Maresca’s departure reflects ongoing public relations struggles during Chelsea’s current ownership era.
Maresca's tenure at Chelsea saw early success including winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup in his first season. He had previously led Leicester City to the Championship title. At the time of his departure, Chelsea sat fifth in the league with cup competitions still underway. The club stated there is no regret regarding the decision to part ways with Maresca.
