Chelsea person released a lengthy connection to uncover that Enzo Maresca archetypal expressed a tendency to regenerate Pep Guardiola arsenic Manchester City successful "Autumn past year".
After weeks of speculation, the Italian was yet confirmed arsenic the Spaniard's successor astatine the Etihad Stadium connected Monday afternoon.
The hold has been a effect of Chelsea's hierarchy pushing hard to person important compensation for Maresca choosing to locomotion distant from Stamford Bridge conscionable 18 months into a five-year contract.
A report past week suggested that Chelsea would beryllium recouping successful the portion of £17m aft lengthy discussions betwixt the applicable parties.
In a elaborate statement, the West Londoners person present revealed the details down the surprise exit of Maresca connected New Year's Day.
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© Imago / Sports Press Photo
Chelsea merchandise Maresca statement, reveals details of Italian's Stamford Bridge exit
It read: "Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 play was a hugely disappointing 1 for the Club and its supporters. A large contributing origin was the disruption caused arsenic a effect of changes that the Club was forced to marque to the Head Coach presumption implicit the Christmas period. Due to caller developments, we see that it is important to explicate to our supporters what happened and wherefore our erstwhile Head Coach near the Club connected 1 January 2026.
"In Autumn past year, the Club was informed by our erstwhile Head Coach that determination mightiness beryllium an accidental for him to win Pep Guardiola astatine the extremity of the season. It became wide to america that it was his beardown tendency to win Guardiola and that helium was afloat committed to pursuing the opportunity, contempt the information helium was nether a semipermanent declaration which helium had nary close to terminate.
"In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt fto down arsenic we believed that his caput and bosom were focused connected different nine and different opportunity, contempt having conscionable arrived astatine Chelsea the twelvemonth before.
"No nine wants to alteration its caput manager midway done a season. However, successful airy of his determination not to proceed fulfilling his responsibilities done to the extremity of the season, the Club was near with nary prime but to support our players, our supporters, and the Badge and judge his resignation.
"In the circumstances and fixed the communal respect betwixt clubs, a confidential colony has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the outgo of compensation. A confidential colony has besides been reached with the erstwhile Head Coach nether which helium volition wage compensation.
"Looking guardant to adjacent season, successful Xabi Alonso, we person a Manager who has an exceptional shot caput and is simply a nonrecreational of the highest integrity. He has each the attributes to present the occurrence the Club’s supporters merit and expect."
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© Imago / PA Images
Chelsea get Maresca reward for perseverance
Regardless of Maresca's mid-season exit, Chelsea should not person finished arsenic debased arsenic 10th spot successful the Premier League table fixed the prime wrong their squad.
At the aforesaid time, it is understandable that BlueCo were near furious that the advancement that had been made successful Maresca's archetypal run had been undone owed to the temptation of Man City.
When Guardiola yet near the Etihad Stadium, Maresca was ever going to beryllium precocious connected Man City's shortlist owed to the clip that helium has antecedently spent moving Guardiola. Chelsea would person known this and they should not enactment similar they were naive to the anticipation of it.
Nevertheless, Chelsea were successful a beardown presumption from a ineligible perspective, and they merit recognition for pushing arsenic hard arsenic imaginable to person a large sum that volition marque up for immoderate of the missed gross from failing to suffice for Europe.
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