Well, there you have it.Chelsea and Enzo Maresca have “parted ways” after a rapid disintegration of a relationship which seemed more solid than ever just a few weeks ago. Things are never stable a...
Well, there you have it.
Chelsea and Enzo Maresca have “parted ways” after a rapid disintegration of a relationship which seemed more solid than ever just a few weeks ago. Things are never stable at Stamford Bridge, but even by Chelsea standards this has been an explosive few weeks.
Things were looking rosy for Maresca back at the end of November. He was named manager of the month after beating Tottenham Wolves and Burnley, and managing a draw against Arsenal with ten men. A spectacular 3-0 defeat of Barcelona in that period felt like an important step in the return of this team to the top. Instead it ends up being more of a final flourish of the Italian’s reign.
Maresca fails to survive Chelsea’s usual December spiral
Enzo Maresca gesticulates on the touchline. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
After that, things started to spiral as they so often do at Stamford Bridge in December. Results turned sour – defeat to Leeds, a draw with Bournemouth, a loss against Atalanta in the Champions League.
That run of games prompted Maresca’s comments about a “lack of support” from those above him at the club after he managed to beat Everton. But that victory on the 13th of December would be his last as Blues boss. Since then he had no wins in 3, and the club felt they had to act.
They are still competing in 4 competitions, and clearly hope that acting now will allow them to get someone in place to stop the rot and end the spiral. It’s yet more egg on the face of the sporting directors, who have failed with another managerial appointment, and surely have to be under pressure themselves now.
In other news…
Talk has already turned to who might replace Maresca, with one outstanding and obvious semi internal candidate named. Fabrizio Romano is among those who have weighed in.
Maresca was let go for various reasons, with some well connected people saying it was in part due to a conflict with the medical team. His decisions over Reece James caused a rift.
Category: General Sports
