Ben specialises in the business of sport as well as transfer news. He has been fortunate to cover multiple World Cups and European Championships, and has also produced a feature-length film called Equal Playing Field following the journey of 60 female footballers who staged the world’s highest football match on top of Mount Kilimanjaro in order to help promote gender equality.
Ben was educated at Oxford University where he studied English before moving into sports journalism.
Enzo Maresca decided he wanted to leave Chelsea following the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on December 30, GMS understands. The Italian chose not to conduct post-match media duties as he weighed up his future before telling Chelsea he wanted to quit. And despite assistant manager Willy Caballero confirming Maresca was sick, GMS has learned Maresca was not in fact struck down by illness.
Tension had built throughout December with Maresca frustrated at a perceived lack of protection and interference in his selection. It led to a post-match interview following the 2-0 win over Everton on December 13 in which Maresca revealed he had faced “the worst 48 hours since I joined”.
Chelsea insiders called this an emotional outburst after an important win at the time but were largely puzzled as to what prompted the comments in his press conference, especially after an important and positive victory. As time passed, Chelsea felt there was a conflict between the club’s medical department and their head coach.
Maresca Frustrations Brewed as Chelsea Model Stands Firm
GMS understands Maresca’s frustrations had been brewing for quite some time. Several confrontations with the club took place due to disagreements over which players should start and which substitutions should be made during games with Maresca not the type of coach to accept on-pitch decisions that are out of his control.
Chelsea’s position is their model won’t change and that all input over selection was exclusively related to player workload and welfare and came from the medical department not the board. Chelsea’s medical department has the power to make recommendations specifically related to injured or recently returning players and there was a need to increasingly reiterate to Maresca which returning players needed to be treated with caution.
However, Maresca felt issues at the club ran far deeper and extended to other departments. He also felt pressure from above to rotate and ultimately raise the value for several young players. Chelsea do encourage the use of their full squad as they seek to challenge on all fronts, but there are denials any coach is ever told what players to select.
At the heart of the problem for Maresca, though, was critical issues with Chelsea’s ownership and vision. And yet Chelsea continue to back their youth-led strategy and multi-club model ultimately leading to a standoff between all parties.
Following the draw with Bournemouth, initial signs pointed towards a slower-moving review of Maresca in the New Year only for the situation to come to head on New Year’s Eve. Even before 2026 was welcomed in, Maresca’s agent Jorge Mendes was working on an exit package with Chelsea.
A parting of ways, unanimously approved by the Chelsea board, was agreed by mutual consent and GMS understands Maresca has waived some of his contract making it a cost-effective departure for Chelsea. Maresca’s decision to forgo any significant severance has been made with a view to an amicable and fast parting. Chelsea also wanted the matter resolved promptly.
The former assistant to Pep Guardiola will now be inevitably linked with a return to Manchester City, potentially to replace his mentor this summer. However, there is no guarantee Maresca will be offered the Manchester City job should a vacancy arise despite being a candidate.
Maresca Has Twice Held Talks With Man City
Maresca has already spoken twice with Manchester City and also received an approach from Juventus. On both occasions he was contractually obliged to alert Chelsea, but in doing so he made it clear he preferred to stay and build on the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League wins in the previous season. Although well-contracted at the time until summer 2029, and with a club option to extend by a further year, Maresca was open to penning fresh terms at Stamford Bridge. However, Chelsea felt he was using leverage of potential jobs to seek improved terms very early into his current deal, but Maresca’s perspective is he was simply reiterating his desire to stay at the club for the long-term.
Instead, Maresca’s relationship with Chelsea’s hierarchy rapidly declined. Chelsea insiders believe Maresca was distracted by the prospect of another job yet the former Leicester boss was transparent in communicating with Chelsea when approaches came as per the terms of his contract.
Chelsea’s leadership also became concerned by 20 dropped points from leading positions in the Premier League and Champions League leading to fears of a lack of mental fortitude. This would have been a hot topic had Maresca lasted until a pre-planned end-of-season review.
In the end, the decision to part ways was a unified one and taken decisively with the timeline in many ways forced by Maresca as soon as he decided to skip post-match media after the Bournemouth draw.
Chelsea now plan to name a successor as quickly as possible with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior a leading contender. GMS understands Cesc Fabregas is not a candidate and Roberto De Zerbi has been ruled out despite some talks in summer 2024 prior to Maresca’s arrival.