Enzo Maresca’s shock departure at Chelsea came after he informed the club that he had held talks with figures associated to Manchester City over replacing Pep Guardiola. Chelsea have been weighed down by uncertainty ever since cracks in Maresca’s relationship with the board became apparent last month, but there is a feeling at Stamford Bridge that the Italian was looking to engineer an exit before a parting of the ways was confirmed on New Year’s Day. Our football reporter Jacob Steinberg reflects on the end of the Maresca era at Stamford Bridge, how it all came to pass and what comes next.

Source: The Guardian January 02, 2026 22:06 UTC