Chelsea parted company with head coach Enzo Maresca after less than two years at the helm, following a poor run and breakdown in relations
Chelsea defender Marx Cucurella has thanked Enzo Maresca in a parting message for the former Blues head coach.
The Blues confirmed the decision that they cut ties with the Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League winner on Thursday, days after his side were booed off following a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. The point left Chelsea fifth in the Premier League ahead of their showdown with Premier League title contenders Manchester City.
It brings an end to Maresca’s tenure at Stamford Bridge following his arrival from Leicester City. The 45-year-old had endured highs and lows in the West London hotseat, but the pressure had been mounting both on and off the pitch in the last month.
Cucurella was among the first players to issue their support for the departing manager, with the Chelsea owners in search of their fourth permanent manager.
In a post to X (formerly Twitter), the Spanish full-back offered his gratitude to the Italian, wishing him luck for the future amid intensifying links with Manchester City.
He wrote: “Thank you for everything, mister, and to your staff. For the work and the trust from day one, and for the memories!
“Wishing you all the best in what comes next. Good luck, boss!”
Maresca’s incendiary comments after their win over Everton lifted the curtain on the fractured relationship behind the scenes. His staunch claims came after their 2-0 win over the Toffees, which ended a run of four matches without a win, a surprise sequence after their emphatic 3-0 triumph over Champions League contenders Barcelona.
He said: “Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn’t support us.”
Since then, the Blues have booked their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 win over Cardiff City, but they have gone three matches without a win.
In that time, they had to come from two down to draw at Newcastle United before letting their one-goal lead slip in a 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa.
Misery was compounded on Tuesday when Stamford Bridge supporters chanted, “You don’t know what you’re doing”, following Maresca’s decision to substitute Cole Palmer.
They were booed off after the 2-2 draw with the Cherries, in which Chelsea trailed and led in before a goalless second half saw the match end all square.
football.london understands that Maresca’s representatives had held talks with Manchester City during his tenure, with the manager letting Chelsea know due to one of the stipulations in his contract, following increasing uncertainty surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Blues chiefs felt that it was an unnecessary distraction which came amid a hectic period for Chelsea as they look to progress in the Champions League, where they face a fight to qualify for the automatic knockout spots, and sit two points behind Liverpool in fourth.