Maresca speaks out on Chelsea sacking after Blues confirm Rosenior as replacement
The former Chelsea boss posted on Instagram to wave farewell to the London club
Enzo Maresca has spoken publicly for the first time since his departure as Chelsea manager, saying he leaves Stamford Bridge with a sense of pride and peace despite the abrupt end to his tenure.
Maresca was dismissed on New Year’s Day, less than six months after guiding Chelsea to Club World Cup success.
While results had dipped in the weeks leading up to his exit, the club were fifth in the Premier League at the time and had shown signs of progress over the course of the season.
However, tensions had begun to emerge behind the scenes, with the Italian questioning aspects of the club’s direction, prompting Chelsea’s hierarchy to make a change rather than attempt to resolve those concerns.
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Following Maresca’s departure, Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane was placed in temporary charge and oversaw a 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that former Strasbourg and Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior would take over on a permanent basis.
Maresca, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2024, reflected on his time at the club in a statement posted on Instagram.
He wrote: “My journey with Chelsea began with the preliminary rounds of the Conference League. I leave with the inner peace of leaving a prestigious club like Chelsea where it deserves to be.”
He went on to thank supporters for their backing during his time in charge, adding: “I want to thank all the Chelsea fans for their support over the last 18 months.
“Support that was crucial to achieving Champions League qualification, winning the Conference League, and winning the Club World Cup. Victories that I will always hold in my heart.”
Maresca also paid tribute to his players and staff, saying: “A special thank you to all the players who have accompanied me on this wonderful journey. I wish everyone who has shared every moment with me every success in this second half of the season and in the future. Thank you, Chelsea from me and my family.”
Before arriving in west London, Maresca enjoyed a successful spell at Leicester City and had previously worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. His coaching pedigree has seen him tipped as a potential successor to Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium in the future, while he has also been loosely linked with Manchester United following Ruben Amorim’s departure from Old Trafford.