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    Chelsea release statement blaming Enzo Maresca for poor season as Man City confirm appointment

    sportsnewsukBy No Comments9 Mins Read
    Chelsea release statement blaming Enzo Maresca for poor season as Man City confirm appointment

    Chelsea release a statement blaming their former manager Enzo Maresca for their poor season as Man City confirm his appointment.

    Quite the statement from Chelsea, not holding back as they say they have been let down by Maresca’s decision to resign from his tenure on the 1st of January 2026.

    Maresca has since made an apology while Man City also had their say. Chelsea receive £17million in compensation, Maresca already agreed a separate settlement.

    A club statement on the website read:

    “Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the Club and its supporters. A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the Club was forced to make to the Head Coach position over the Christmas period. Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former Head Coach left the Club on 1 January 2026.

    “In Autumn last year, the Club was informed by our former Head Coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

    “In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.

    “No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the Club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the Badge and accept his resignation.

    “In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former Head Coach under which he will pay compensation.

    “Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a Manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the Club’s supporters deserve and expect.”

    Enzo Maresca said via Instagram: “At the end of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea.

    “The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well. I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City.

    “I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish.

    “I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure.

    “I am grateful to the club, the owners and the fans for giving me the opportunity.”

    Man City wrote: “Enzo Maresca has long been regarded by the club as a candidate within our succession planning. As a former successful coach within our system, Enzo has a strong relationship with the Club’s leadership and he understands how we work and evolve.

    “We can confirm that confidential conversations took place between select representatives of City and Enzo Maresca in Autumn and Winter of 2025, while he was Chelsea FC’s Head Coach, regarding the possibility of him returning to City in a transitional leadership coaching capacity should Pep Guardiola decide to leave. We acknowledge Chelsea’s statement regarding the context of Enzo’s departure from Chelsea. We also acknowledge the context in which permission for discussions was given, and we recognize that his departure mid-season was disruptive to Chelsea’s season.

    “Once terms were agreed with Enzo Maresca, Manchester City and Chelsea FC reached a mutually agreed settlement under which Chelsea FC will receive compensation.”

     

    Maresca said, on joining Man City, as per their website: “Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me.

    “City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.

    “This will be my third spell here. I know this Club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.

    “The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability.

    “I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.”

    The statement goes on to say: Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes City and Maresca are a perfect match and says the style of football the Italian favours is a reflection of the Club’s values.

    “Enzo is someone who has always sought out opportunities to challenge himself and succeed in his managerial career. He brings a personality, passion and intelligence completely aligned to our needs.

    “He is re-joining an organisation that is entirely in lock-step with his ambition and hunger for achievement and his return to Manchester City is therefore a welcome natural next step for both him and the Club.

    “Enzo inherits a squad and football organisation perfectly suited to reflect and evolve his brand of football, and we are all very much looking forward to seeing the impact he can have in building further on the Club’s success.

    “Welcome home Enzo.”

    Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano added: “Enzo was the stand-out candidate in our considerations. We know his personality and his vision for the way football should be played. He is a man with integrity, charisma and passion.

    “In addition to his successes at Chelsea and Leicester, his City track record speaks for itself. He managed our EDS team with distinction and was a key contributor to the historic Treble season.

    “We will ensure that he receives everything he needs to be successful here and we are all very much looking forward to seeing his positive impact on the next phase of the Club’s progress.”

    Everyone at Manchester City wishes Enzo the very best of luck as he prepares to embark on this exciting new challenge.

    Here’s how fans reacted after Chelsea release a statement blaming Enzo Maresca for their poor season as Man City confirm his appointment…

    @kezzii93: Not nice when people get tapped up unofficially is it? #SAFC #CFC

    @SAFC_Luke_2703: Not nice when the guy you thought was committed to the club snakes you at the first opportunity is it lads…

    @RokerReport: Chelsea here telling us , ‘they felt let down as they believed that their now ex-manager’s head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.’ 🙃

    @Lea_EFC: That’s piss poor from Maresca imo

    @Gemma_Manns: Fair play to CFC 4 the transparency. IMO while Marescas tantrums 2 a point justified, no doubt they were fuelled by the new opportunity presented at City. Ultimately it derailed our (already crappy) season & he showed no loyalty 2 the fans & players. Fu@k it, we move.

    @Chels_HQ: Can you explain to your supporters next why you don’t sign any good players? Far more of a ‘major contributing factor’ than this nonsense.

    @StokeyyG2: They treated Maresca like a saint when he left just for the guy to snake them 😭😭

    @OlIyCFC: Good to call Maresca out properly but important that we don’t lose track of the two more important points. 1) nobody forced them to make the situation worse by hiring Rosenior. 2) that your manager resigned to join a rival is not something to parade about. It’s embarrassing

    @sashcfc: There’s a right and wrong way to leave a job and the way he left was wrong. Major part of why our season tanked. How anyone can still defend him is beyond me

    @NotPaneen: 95% of these bozo Chelsea fans will genuinely fall for this crap as well. Fair play Clearlake you are genuinely top dictators

    @timstillman_: Refusing to name Maresca. Capitalising ‘Badge.’ 10/10. No notes.

    @B03GHB4L1: I’m so happy this happened. I supported a club for many many years where this would’ve been unreasonable (i.e. Chelsea was always as big of an opportunity as Man City so a lateral move would not have made sense if it happened). A bunch of clueless people came in and ruined all of that, fucked up all the standards at the club and gave everyone (players and coaching staff) grounds to look for “better” elsewhere. If this is the kick in the ass to make this club start acting seriously, then I’m very happy it happened

    @SonOfChelsea: Massive shade thrown – effectively blaming the entire season’s failure on Maresca, which is quite convenient. But we move on, Xabi era starts on Wednesday



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