Enzo Maresca was sacked from Chelsea on Thursday, January 1. This is the first time in Premier League history that a manager has departed his duties on January 1. On January 1, it is customary to do something good that fans will appreciate. It is a time when good things usually happen, but Chelsea is anything but a normal football club.
For the first time in history, a Premier League manager has officially been sacked on January 1. While Crystal Palace are preparing their new signing from Tottenham, Brennan Johnson, while the January transfer window has begun, and while Antoine Semenyo, who played his last match for Bournemouth against Chelsea this week, is in Manchester in the final days of his January transfer to Manchester City, Chelsea have parted ways with Enzo Maresca, and the club is entering a period of uncertainty.
While the Manchester United situation has very much improved, and many clubs are starting their January market activity, Chelsea has replaced their coach, and it is not yet clear who will be there. So, potential signings are a big problem, and the situation is now uncertain at Chelsea.
While Manchester City are preparing a huge signing in Semenyo and can now attack both the Champions League and Premier League, while Arsenal have won the most important battles of the season and are still leaders, Chelsea have officially parted ways with Maresca.
Reasons for sacking Maresca from Chelsea
Firstly, when in a team of five, the options are Liam Delap and João Pedro; you cannot expect the team to be competitive in the Premier League. Good cooperation with Brighton was a sure deal, and they signed João Pedro. We know the references João Pedro had, but what was the reason to sign Liam Delap, who is only causing fouls and getting red and yellow cards?
This is a fact Maresca was sucked into when it was clear that Chelsea could not compete in the Premier League for anything more than 4th position. When all the battles had been lost, the club reacted. In this phase, they expected to fight with Arsenal and City for the title.
There was zero analysis if they scored these two.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’ is very weak, and Gittens had zero impact on Maresca’s football and did not improve the team in any way.
Maresca’s legacy at Chelsea Football Club
Enzo Maresca has returned stability to the club, which was the thing Chelsea needed the most at the time. He was there to restore Chelsea’s reputation to a great level. There was a restoration of reputation on all sides. The club played great football, and he secured the signings of many players who will come to the club in the next season. He was there protecting and improving players.
Enzo Maresca returned the team to Champions League positions after inheriting a team that qualified only for the Conference League.
The club was very well led and was a very tough side to play against. Chelsea became a very tactical side, playing in a style that had not been seen at the club for many years. His introduction of Marc Cucurella at left-back and his ability to play him offensively was very marked and important.
He employed Enzo Fernández and turned Moisés Caicedo into a miracle midfielder.
His work with Reece James was outstanding. The player has no more injuries and had a very important role until the end.
Chelsea were stable under Maresca, succeeding in World Club glory during the summer. The problem was starting the new season, since the players did not have time to rest properly before the league began. It all led to the necessity to rotate players in every match.
Chelsea won the Conference League under Maresca’s leadership and has returned to the Champions League after the last campaign with Thomas Tuchel.
Maresca has left Chelsea are in a stable position in the group stages of the Champions League, with two more matches to be played. They are playing against Pafos at Stamford Bridge, and they will play Napoli in Italy.
With two victories, they can finish in the first eight and pass directly.
Maresca was also in the hunt for trophies in the EFL Cup. His team progressed to the semi-finals against Arsenal. As he said, it was his third semi-final in 18 months.
In the end, what cost Maresca the most at Chelsea was a team that was not strong enough to fight on all fronts. The team has a very critical defence and two strikers who are very poor.
Was Maresca used by Chelsea? Was James Rosenior a wonder kid a real manager for the future at Chelsea? Was Maresca here to make all this possible and then to be reapplied on January 1 2026? Did Chelsea pre-engage Rosneor and have Maresca there to do the job? Was Enzo Maresca used by Chelsea?
A manager who returned stability to the club has been switched at the moment when it is crystal clear Chelsea cannot be close to the rhythm of Arsenal and Manchester City. That is the truth, but what is being forgotten is that Chelsea were a Conference League team before Maresca came. They finished 10th in the league, and the next season they were 7th, securing Conference League football.
Was Enzo Maresca a victim of his prior success at Chelsea, and was he used to get the team into balance while the team and the board had already chosen a new long-term manager?
Liam Rosenior had it already been decided to be Chelsea’s long-term manager? Maresca was just there to do his business?
James Rosenior is maybe the big weapon in the hands of the Chelsea board and ownership structures, and was Marseca at Chelsea to succeed everything, while the real manager behind was preparing to take over this project.
The English manager at Chelsea?
Having an English manager really matters in England and at Chelsea. The tradition is very important in England, and maybe Tod Bohly has decided prior to Maresca coming to Chelsea that the manager of Chelsea is really devoted to is Liam Rosner, and they will give him confidence when the time is ready for him at Chelsea.
Maybe the Italian has been her to gain all these successes and to prepare the time for a young English manager with capacity. Maybe he was at Chelsea to succeed everything he had, to restore the team’s reputation, to get Chelsea to the Champions League.
It was significant that he was sacked on 1 the first and was not attending the last press conference
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