Chelsea have launched a fierce response to Enzo Maresca’s move to Manchester City, accusing their former head coach of leaving the club badly exposed during a difficult Premier League season.
Man City has officially appointed Enzo Maresca as the club’s successor to Pep Guardiola
Maresca previously worked under Pep Guardiola – and City will have to pay £17m to hire him
Maresca has now been confirmed as the man chosen to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, with City agreeing a compensation package reportedly worth £17million. The appointment marks a dramatic return for the Italian, who previously worked inside the City setup and was viewed by senior figures as someone capable of continuing Guardiola’s footballing vision.
But Chelsea’s reaction has made clear that there is still major frustration at Stamford Bridge over the way Maresca’s exit unfolded. In a strongly worded statement, the club said it felt let down by its former head coach and suggested his focus had shifted towards Manchester City while he was still under a long-term contract in west London.
Chelsea claimed Maresca informed them last autumn that he could have the chance to succeed Guardiola at the end of the season. According to the club, it then became clear that he was determined to pursue that opportunity, even though he had only arrived at Chelsea the year before.
Maresca is pictured in City’s publicity shots after they settled furious Chelsea’s demands
The Blues said his sudden resignation on New Year’s Day caused significant disruption and left them with little choice but to accept his departure in order to protect the players, supporters and the club badge. They also confirmed that confidential settlements had been reached with both Manchester City and Maresca himself.
Maresca issued his own statement after the announcement, apologising for the disruption caused by his mid-season exit. He insisted the decision to leave Chelsea was his alone and said it had not been his intention to damage the club. However, he also made clear that he was thrilled to be back at Manchester City and excited by the challenge ahead.
The move comes after Guardiola’s emotional farewell to City following a trophy-laden decade in charge. Maresca’s previous experience at the club, including his work with the Elite Development Squad and later as one of Guardiola’s assistants, played a major role in City’s decision to bring him back.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak praised Maresca’s intelligence, personality and ambition, describing his return as a natural next step for both the manager and the club. City will hope he can restore them to the top of English football after missing out on the Premier League title in back-to-back seasons.
For Chelsea, the focus has already shifted to Xabi Alonso, who has been backed as a manager with the integrity and football intelligence needed to rebuild the club. But the fallout from Maresca’s move to Manchester City is unlikely to disappear quickly, especially after Chelsea’s unusually public and pointed criticism.
What should have been a major managerial unveiling has now become one of the most explosive Premier League stories of the summer: a huge compensation fee, a bruised former club and a coach stepping into one of the biggest jobs in world football under an immediate cloud of controversy.
