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Tag: Maresca

  • JUST IN: Maresca leaves Chelsea after poor run of form in December

    JUST IN: Maresca leaves Chelsea after poor run of form in December

    Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea manager with the club sitting fifth in the Premier League.

    The Italian, 45, departs less than six months after winning the Club World Cup at the end of his first season at Stamford Bridge.

    “With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track,” Chelsea said.

    The Blues have won just one of their past seven league matches and took only six points from six games in December to fall 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

    But results are only a small part of the story.

    Maresca, who had a contract due to run to 2029, delighted key figures at Stamford Bridge – including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and influential co-owner Behdad Eghbali – by steering Chelsea to a top-four finish and winning the Uefa Conference League and Club World Cup last year.

    Yet success soon turned to sourness in his relationship with the hierarchy.

    Maresca stunned even members of his own staff when – after beating Everton 2-0 for Chelsea‘s solitary Premier League win in December – he said “many people” had made it his “worst 48 hours” since joining the club.

    The former Leicester manager has also switched agents – from the Wasserman agency to Jorge Mendes – and has been talked of as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, which Maresca has dismissed.

    BBC

  • Maresca defends ‘confused Chelsea’ defeat to Celtic 

    Maresca defends ‘confused Chelsea’ defeat to Celtic 

    Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said his players were still trying to adjust to his playing style after losing 4-1 to Celtic in a pre-season friendly in Indiana on Saturday.

    Christopher Nkunku’s 89th -minute penalty was the only consolation for the Premier League side, while goals from Matt O’Riley, Kyogo, Luis Palmer – following a Benoit Badiashile mistake – and Mickey Johnston provided Brendan Rodgers with a much happier afternoon.

    “Off the ball we need to improve things,” Maresca said, after also having to defend his “risky style” following a 2-2 draw with Wrexham last Thursday – his first game in charge. “You can see sometimes we confuse when we need to play short and when we need to play a little bit longer but that is part of the process.

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    “We maintained a high line but when the ball is not under pressure, you need to drop. We are still confusing some things on the ball and off the ball. It is normal in this moment when we are trying to do something new.”

    Chelsea had 23 shots to Celtic’s 14 and almost two-thirds of the possession, but were again guilty of some sloppy defending, leading to O’Riley’s opener from a short corner, before two goals in the space of three second-half minutes sealed their fate.

    Some carelessness from Badiashile presented Palma with Celtic’s third and then a simple ball over the top released Johnston, who made it 4-0. Nkunku scored from the spot late on following a foul on Raheem Sterling.

    Despite two lacklustre results, Maresca finished by insisting his team would be ready for their Premier League opener against champions Manchester City on August 18, live on Sky Sports.

    He can only hope for better when meeting Mexican side Club America in Atlanta on Wednesday.

  • Chelsea appoint Leicester’s Maresca as manager

    Chelsea appoint Leicester’s Maresca as manager

    Chelsea have appointed Leicester manager Enzo Maresca as their new boss on a five-year contract with the option of an extra year.

    The Italian replaces Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent on 21 May after just one season at Stamford Bridge.

    Maresca, 44, took charge of the Foxes in June 2023 and led them to the Championship title last term.

    “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach,” he said. “It is why I am so excited by this opportunity.

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    “I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.”

    Maresca, who will begin his new role on 1 July, is Chelsea’s sixth managerial appointment in five years and the fourth since American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital bought the club in May 2022.

    BBC