Chelsea Football Club are poised to part ways with manager Enzo Maresca, with an emergency meeting on New Year's Day confirming his imminent departure from Stamford Bridge.
Breakdown in Relations Leads to Crisis Point
The Italian's position has become untenable following a complete breakdown in his relationships with key figures in the Chelsea hierarchy. Maresca is expected to leave his post on Thursday, 1st January 2026, and will not be in the dugout for Sunday's crucial Premier League fixture away to Manchester City.
His exit comes amid a dismal run of form, with the team securing just one victory in their last seven top-flight matches. The final straw appeared to be Tuesday night's 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth, after which Maresca pointedly skipped the post-match press conference. While the club cited illness, reports from talkSPORT indicate the 45-year-old was instead making a clear statement of his unhappiness.
Inflammatory Comments and Transfer Tensions
Signs of serious friction emerged earlier in December when Maresca made pointed public comments after a win over Everton. He stated the preceding "48 hours have been the worst since I joined the club because many people didn't support us." When asked to elaborate, he deliberately repeated the criticism, aiming clear dissatisfaction at his employers.
Beyond results, the tension is understood to stem from Maresca's desire for greater influence over football decisions, particularly transfers. Chelsea's ownership, led by co-owner Behdad Eghbali, and sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, have been unwilling to deviate from their multi-club model structure to accommodate him.
Contingency Plans and Contract Complications
Chelsea, reportedly bewildered by the speed of the collapse, do have a contingency plan. Liam Rosenior, currently managing French side Strasbourg—which is part of the same BlueCo ownership group—is highly regarded and could be a potential successor.
Maresca's departure is complicated by his long-term contract, which runs until 2029 with an option for a further year. It remains to be seen whether he will receive a significant pay-off or leave by mutual consent.
His tenure, which began in June 2024, initially showed promise. He delivered a Conference League and Club World Cup double in the 2024/25 season, secured a fourth-place Premier League finish, and guided the team back into the Champions League. However, underlying issues have now erupted, leaving Chelsea fifth in the table and searching for yet another new manager.
