Chelsea FC Part Ways with Maresca Amid Premier League Struggles

Chelsea FC has parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca as the club strives to maintain competitiveness at the upper echelon of the Premier League. Currently, Chelsea finds itself 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal and has achieved only two victories in their last seven league matches. Consequently, the club is exploring alternatives to Maresca, with Liam Rosenior, currently at Strasbourg, being considered the leading candidate for the managerial position. Additionally, while Roberto De Zerbi has been mentioned, it is unlikely that the controversial Marseille manager will be a target.

Rival supporters have been quick to criticize Chelsea for what they perceive as a recurring pattern of dismissing managers under pressure. Comments from fans reflect this sentiment:

@DarrylRMFC remarked, “Back to being a banter club we will be there.”

@UTD_Louie suggested, “Please interview Ruben Amorim for the vacant manager role.”

@The_Sambu added, “We are never getting out of the woods anytime soon with Eghbali at the helm of Chelsea. This will be the pattern. Building a backward project!”

@MajidMheiri expressed concern, stating, “Great… let’s look for League One managers and belittle our club, especially now when it’s finally settled. Sacking Maresca after he finally got us back to trophies with the youngest team in the history of the Premier League is something we might regret later.”

@ClinicalKai criticized the club’s management, saying, “Chelsea under Clearlake are the worst-run club in the history of the sport.”

@Wizard_Season called the decision terrible, arguing, “Sporting directors should have gone instead. This obsession with signing young players will get us nowhere. This is NOT Chelsea Football Club!”

Former Chelsea player Pat Nevin has suggested that the club might be seeking a “puppet” manager. In an interview with the BBC, he commented, “Not stunned, not shocked. Mildly surprised but no more than that. Over the years, look how many managers have taken digs at their board and then survived the next crisis. It is minuscule. As soon as he made his remarks after the Everton game, I thought his days were numbered. I know how board members react – they can endure anything as long as it’s the manager taking the hit. This was a foregone conclusion.”

Nevin continued, “Chelsea needs someone who will adhere to the methodology. In other words, they need a puppet—someone who will follow directives from above. Chelsea wants success, aiming for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification every season. However, they also desire someone who will comply with their instructions. These two objectives may not be compatible.

While Liam Rosenior appears to be a strong candidate, Nevin cautioned that he lacks experience at this level, suggesting that hiring someone without that background would be a significant risk. It is likely they will opt for a younger and more easily managed coach.

Looking ahead, Chelsea will face Manchester City this weekend in their first match following Maresca’s departure. The identity of the interim manager remains uncertain. Maresca’s assistant, Willy Caballero, had mentioned that Maresca was unwell after their recent 2-2 draw with Bournemouth; however, this claim has since been refuted.