Enzo Maresca forgot Chelsea's golden rule: the manager does not call the shots | Jacob Steinberg

"There was surprise when he told staff that he did not want to conduct his post-match press conference after the disappointing 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night. The official explanation was that Maresca was too unwell to talk in public, despite having just spent the evening coaching on the Stamford Bridge touchline, but the friction was palpable and it was never going to sit well with the Chelsea hierarchy when it took less than 24 hours for reports to emerge that the sickness line was a red herring and their head coach had actually decided not to meet the media because he needed time to consider his options."

"Maresca dared Chelsea to act and will have been the least surprised person in the world to find himself unemployed less than a day into 2026. This is where it was heading from the moment Maresca started his rebellion against the Chelsea project after last month's otherwise unremarkable win over Everton. The 45-year-old was asking for trouble when he made those cryptic comments about experiencing his worst 48 hours at the club."

"Chelsea hated the volatility. After the 2-2 draw with Newcastle on 20 December, one source said Maresca's position would quickly become untenable if he kept acting up. It is not as if Chelsea had peak Jose Mourinho or Thomas Tuchel in charge. Maresca is talented but imperfect. He is in his third year of management and his behaviour has betrayed his inexperience."

Chelsea terminated Enzo Maresca following escalating tensions that culminated on New Year's Eve. Maresca declined to conduct a post-match press conference after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, citing illness despite coaching on the touchline, and reportedly said he needed time to consider his options. The club interpreted those actions and earlier cryptic remarks about his worst 48 hours as deliberate provocation aimed at forcing a departure. Sources described his position as increasingly untenable after volatile behaviour following the Newcastle draw and perceived rebellion after the Everton win. Chelsea judged his conduct inexperienced and destabilising to the project.

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