Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day after tensions escalated behind the scenes. It was the Italian player’s relationship with his former club that contributed to the breakdown.
Maresca has been at City for two years and in early December Guardiola described him as “one of the best players in the world”, fueling speculation that he was being prepared to replace him.
“It doesn’t affect me at all, because I know it’s 100 percent speculation,” Maresca said in December when asked about his relationship with the city.
“And at the moment, we don’t have time for that kind of thing.
“First of all, because I’m probably under contract here until 2029. And, as I’ve said many times, my focus is really on this club and I’m very proud to be here. But again, that’s speculation.”
“A week ago I was in Italy, the same place I was with Juventus, so I don’t care because I know it’s not true. It’s important to understand why this news broke, but it’s just speculation.”
Maresca joined Chelsea in June 2024 following a successful promotion campaign from the Championship with Leicester City.
He led the Blues to fourth place in the Premier League last summer and secured a return to the Champions League before qualifying for the Conference League and Club World Cup.
However, he was fired on New Year’s Day in a 99-word statement.
Chelsea said, “Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted ways.
“During his time at the club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. These achievements are an important part of the club’s recent history and we thank him for his contribution to the club.”
“Enzo and the club believe that the changes will give the team the best chance of getting the season back on track, as important objectives remain over four competitions, including qualification to the Champions League. We wish Enzo all the best for the future.”
