Manchester City succession sheds light on Enzo Maresca's Chelsea departure

Enzo Maresca’s remarks about his worst 48 hours at Chelsea are linked to a deteriorating relationship with the club. After a 2-0 win over Everton on 13 December, he told the media that many people did not support him and the team, without specifying who. Over the following fortnight, his behavior suggested he wanted to be sacked, while Chelsea did not act immediately. After a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on 30 December, he went into the manager’s office and told his bosses he did not want to conduct post-match duties. Sources say this effectively amounted to handing in a resignation, leading to his departure two days later. Chelsea also raised concerns about his communications with Manchester City while under contract and sought compensation for City to acquire his services.

"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn't support us, he said. People didn't support me and the team. Which people? Maresca never said and Chelsea were perplexed. The situation deteriorated over the next fortnight and it was hard not to feel Maresca was behaving like a man who wanted to be sacked. Chelsea, though, refused to pull the trigger."

"It was only when Maresca went into the manager's office at Stamford Bridge after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on 30 December and told his bosses he did not want to conduct his post-match duties that it became clear there was no putting the genie back in the bottle. Sources familiar with that episode say that was the moment Maresca in effect handed in his resignation. He was gone two days later, the club statement landing early on New Year's Day."

"Chelsea, unsurprisingly, have not moved on from Maresca informing them he had twice spoken to City while under contract. This was not a fond farewell. Maresca walked away without his severance, with three and a half years on his deal. Sources close to the former Leicester manager have acknowledged Chelsea are entitled to demand a sizeable compensation package for City to acquire his services."

Read at www.theguardian.com