Maresca leaves confirmed

[CloudFox]

2 hours ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

 

'A next step to the elite' - inside Maresca's move to Chelsea

 

 

 

It's official. Enzo Maresca is the new Chelsea manager.

 

Just weeks after guiding Leicester City back to the Premier League, the Italian has quit after one season and opted to take on what many see as a poisoned chalice.

 

The 44-year-old will become the fifth Blues boss since the start of 2022-23, and a seventh permanent boss in five years.

 

His predecessor Mauricio Pochettino lost his job - albeit by mutual consent - at the end of the season despite guiding Chelsea to sixth in the Premier League, back into European football and to a domestic cup final.

 

So, why has Maresca turned his back on the Foxes for a club who splashed an incredible £747m on transfers during the 2022-23 campaign and have lurched from crisis to crisis in the recent past?

Issues looming for the Foxes

As genuine as Maresca's joy was at taking Leicester City straight back to the top flight at the first time of asking, the euphoria created by promotion could not disguise the fact that not everything was well at the club.

 

Leicester's possible Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues were something he only became aware of after the season had started.

 

That, coupled with a highly unsatisfactory January transfer window involving two deals in particular, also created conflict at Leicester.

 

Cesare Casadei was very much part of Maresca's plans after signing on loan - coincidentally, from Chelsea - at the start of the season. Then Chelsea recalled him in the winter window.

 

Stefano Sensi, from Inter Milan, had come to the UK to help complete the deal once the two clubs had negotiated a fee for the player. Suddenly everything fell apart over concerns surrounding the club's FFP standing.

 

Maresca kept his counsel and soldiered on but to say he was unimpressed on both occasions would be an understatement.

 

But to say that disillusionment with the club is the defining reason for his swapping the blue of Leicester to that of Chelsea is wide of the mark.

Aiming for a top-four finish

The reality is that when you receive offers from two former Champions League-winning sides - Chelsea and Porto - your profile in a competitive market becomes clear. And it is clear too why Maresca has been chosen to make improvements at a potentially top club like Chelsea.

 

That is probably being a bit unfair to Pochettino, because he has left the club in a considerably better, far more stable place than he found it 12 months ago.

 

Pochettino, though, is the type of coach who has to believe he is in the right place, where he feels respected as he co-exists in an atmosphere of happiness and harmony - and he felt none of those things at Stamford Bridge.

 

Ironically, Maresca is also that kind of manager, someone who needs to feel empathy and the understanding of his paymasters.

 

Bearing that in mind, his main worry about accepting the job will be taking on board Pochettino's reasons for leaving, namely the excessive interference and influence exerted by the owners, which many believe hampers the work done by the coaches.

 

He could have called Pochettino to ask for his input.

 

But Maresca has been told the right things, sent the right messages and been reassured that at Chelsea he will be supported and surrounded by enough elite people that can work alongside him, to guarantee the club can achieve their first major aim of a top-four finish.

What will he find at Chelsea?

He will find a young team, one disappointed with the departure of Pochettino, who many felt was just starting to get it right.

 

But he shouldn't have too much of a problem selling his type of game to his new players, a style which isn't dissimilar from Pochettino's: high tempo, pressure high up the pitch, possession.

 

This time - with the greatest respect to the Leicester squad - he will be able to apply it with players better than the ones he had at King Power Stadium.

 

To do that, he will have to stamp his authority and continue the progress in the culture of the club started by Pochettino, not just within the camp but also with everyone around it as well, very much like he did at Leicester.

 

Maresca won't initially be looking for a club that wins absolutely everything but rather one that gives him stability and allows him to put his ideology into practice.

 

For the majority of Leicester fans, there will be disappointment.

 

But Maresca, despite the title-winning euphoria, always believed the main aim for this Leicester side in the coming season would be avoiding relegation.

 

The Chelsea fans will take to him and to his style of play. They will find him an interesting guy, a man of depth who might come over a little reserved at the beginning but who will soon convince the fans.

 

His wife Maria and their four children will be happy to be staying in England, although they would have preferred to remain in Leicester, where they have settled very well.

 

When offers like this come in, though, they also know that they can't really be turned down.

 

Ultimately, his decision to leave Leicester has nothing to do with the negativity he received from some of the fans in the past about the style of football.

 

Rather, it is because a club of a higher calibre has given him the chance to get close to the elite - where he belonged as a player and to where he quite rightly aspires to be as a coach.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cv22ed022j5o

 

 

Mostly fair, albeit a clear PR piece from Balague.

 

Not sure Maresca "kept his counsel" on the January window though. He wasn't overt in his criticism, publicly, but he definitely made it clear he wasn't happy. And that was fair!

 

The suggestion Enzo's style is "not dissimilar" to Pochettino's is a bit of a reach though. It's not dissimilar in that they both coach football teams I suppose 🤷🏻‍♂️

[UniFox21]

3 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Looks like if you ever wrote anything bad about Enzo on Twitter there is a VERY good chance his wife has blocked you 

His wife and/or Guillem 

[coolhandfox]

Hopefully he lasts about 6 months.

[Gamble92]

Once everyone at your club realises what Guillem's role is for Enzo, what on earth does that do to help him in his role?

 

Everyone on here couldn't stand hearing from him. I see Wolves fans felt exactly the same about him when he did it for their former manager.

 

From Guillem's side he seems to do alright out of it. He gets access to great items like Harry Winks left boot to raffle off at an overpriced 3 course dinner. But what Enzo gets out of it really does baffle me. 

[Gamble92]

2 minutes ago, UniFox21 said:

His wife and/or Guillem 

Wonder if Enzo can tell the difference these days 

[Scotch]

28 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

 

I think as far as having a manager who looks quite cool on the touchline we’ve peaked and it’ll probably never hit these heights again. It’s a shame but that’s just the kind of football club we are, not very cool and a bit ugly  

...but alternatively, we can now go and get Cooper who looks like he'd sit next to you on the bus even though all the other seats are available!

[lcfc_forever]

25 minutes ago, Matt said:

I just still can’t get over the powers that be are frustrated.

 

Are they honestly that self admiring they don’t see any wrong in their day to day running?

Thinking about Percy’s article, the club also pulled out of a lucrative pre-season tour as that’s what Enzo wanted and now he’s left so another factor why they’re annoyed. 

Edited 3 June by lcfc_forever

[rugbyblue]

12 minutes ago, Scotch said:

...but alternatively, we can now go and get Cooper who looks like he'd sit next to you on the bus even though all the other seats are available!

Then dribble on you and say I like your shoes 😂

[wokinghamfox]

47 minutes ago, v6rat said:

And after his move to west London was confirmed, Maresca said: “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by this opportunity. I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud. 

 

I also look forward to the club's tradition of sacking me before the end of the season and sailing off into the sunset with my compensation.

 

Weren't they similar to the words of Wesley fofana too when he went down there. Look how his luck has turned out so far. 

[Chelmofox]

31 minutes ago, Matt said:

I just still can’t get over the powers that be are frustrated.

 

Are they honestly that self admiring they don’t see any wrong in their day to day running?

They are allowed to feel aggrieved surely?  

[Matt]

4 minutes ago, lcfc_forever said:

Thinking about Percy’s article, the club also pulled out of a lucrative pre-season tour as that’s what Enzo wanted and now he’s left so another factor why they’re annoyed. 

Yeah I think that's brilliant.

 

I mentioned it last week.

 

On both sides;

 

On our side - I thank Enzo for that, I thank Enzo for calling the powers that be into some question, after the debacle of last seasons pre-season tour, learn. They're clearly not learners though.

 

On Enzo's side - He'll be going to America and other countries on a pre season tour  Also, it was believed he didn't like the amount of games in the Championship last season, well enjoy the pre season tours on the other side of the world, enjoy European commitments and enjoy the expectation from Chelsea to go deep in the League Cup/FA Cup, balanced with expectation to do well in the Premier League.  

 

I don't think either side come out smelling of roses.

[StriderHiryu]

34 minutes ago, Matt said:

I just still can’t get over the powers that be are frustrated.

 

Are they honestly that self admiring they don’t see any wrong in their day to day running?

Like a lot of people in the elite circles of society, they just don't understand everyday life. See Liz Truss, Sunak, Johnson, et all. Surround yourself with yes men and you'll never hear "no".

[Matt]

18 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

They are allowed to feel aggrieved surely?  

Aggrieved about what exactly? He'd probably have left anyway but their running of the club gave him even more reason to - take those reasons away and maybe then they can be frustrated or aggrieved. 

 

He didn't jump at the first opportunity if it's true Sevilla were making eyes at him.

 

Get their house in order first. 

 

Become accountable for their actions, learn from mistakes, employ people who can do their jobs.

 

Edited 3 June by Matt

[sm1]

Glad it's been finalised and we've made a few million out of it. It's the ideal time to get a new man in, who'll have a full pre season with the team.

[fox_favourite]

46 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Looks like if you ever wrote anything bad about Enzo on Twitter there is a VERY good chance his wife has blocked you 

Oh no, my heart bleeds...anyway 

[WoodyFox]

45 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Looks like if you ever wrote anything bad about Enzo on Twitter there is a VERY good chance his wife has blocked you 

She was openly liking Fabrizio’s posts about the move this time last week amongst posts defending his playing style. Is she, Guillem and Michael tac tac all the same person? All a bit bizarre 

[Tielemans63]

If he thinks we're a shitshow behind the scenes....good luck at Chelsea, Enzo. Having a billionaire who has no idea what he's doing in charge doesn't make you a well-run club.

 

Anyway, thanks for the promotion. The fact that he's jumped ship at the first opportunity suggests we're probably better off without him. A manager who's heart is clearly no longer in it is better off gone.

Edited 3 June by Tielemans63

[iancognito]

45 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Hopefully he lasts about 6 months.

Why hopefully? He's done what any coach or for that matter any one of us would have done. Bigger club, bigger wages, better players etc etc All that AND a guaranteed payoff at the end.

 

He could have stayed here and been sacked in 6 months

[MPH]

i find all this ' hope he does badly' talk a little bit childish.....

 

 

I  mean, for them most part we are all grown adults and lets not kid ourselves, the club would have dropped him like a hot potato had it not worked out with him. Why are we expecting a level of loyalty from him that we wouldn't have shown ourselves?

Edited 3 June by MPH

[Chrysalis]

3 hours ago, lcfc_forever said:

Similar to what Tanner said about disappointment at the club as they wanted to back him and agreed to address the issues from last season but he broke his commitment to them: 

 

 

Cant blame him for not wanting to work with them to be honest.

 

In his shoes I would have insisted the removal of Rudkin, and also Top stays out of footballing decisions.

 

The thing is we all know we will get another of the same mould of manager, Top trying to think he can build a Barca team without the players, just the manager.

Edited 3 June by Chrysalis

[Chrysalis]

2 hours ago, MonkeyTennis? said:

I appreciate it might be a frustrating situation, but I feel like the club hierarchy is picking fights with everyone at the moment (the EFL, the prem, now this passive aggressive stuff about Enzo). Whatever the justification, it's not a great look bearing in mind their own financial management. 

 

 

Everyone else is wrong, they have got it all right.

[Supergray22]

If this time last year we had the opportunity to get someone in for one year who would get us the champions spot but leave after one year we would have taken it. I thank him for what he did for us but let’s move on and look to the future. 

[John rayner]

3 hours ago, Pliskin said:

He will last three months. 

That's being generous 

[LCFCCHRIS]

Thanks for: 

promotion 

£10M payout

 

hope you get:

6 points against all of our relegation rivals and apart from that don’t care 

 

 

 

[goose2010]

Be interesting to see what reaction he gets when he returns to filbert way (nailed on for first game of the season!)