Enzo Maresca getting sacked as Chelsea's boss on January 1 came as a big shocker for fans and the players as well. The Blues were doing decently good in the Premier League and other competitions, but a rift between the coach and the club's hierarchy led to the removal of the Italian tactician, which eventually proved to be the turning point for the North London side.
Marc Cucurella on Enzo Maresca's sacking
Recently, Chelsea's star defender, Marc Cucurella has slammed the club's decision of sacking Maresca midway through the season. In an interview with The Athletic, Cucurella revealed that the sacking had a negative impact on the players, which changed the momentum as well.
“The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us. These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season,” said Maresca.
In June 2024, Maresca replaced Mauricio Pochettino to become Chelsea's manager. In Maresca's stint of 18 months at Stamford Bridge, the Italian coach went on to win the UEFA Conference League and the 2025 FIFA Club world Cup with Blues.
Chelsea sacking Enzo Maresca is one of the biggest blunders made by the North-London club. Liam Rosenior replaced Maresca at Chelsea, but has failed to create an impact with his tactics.
Chelsea's inconsistent form in the Premier League
Currently, in the Premier League the Blues stand at the sixth place with 48 points in hand in 31 games. If this kind of form continues, then Chelsea won't be able to play in the UEFA Champions League next season, which would be a big setback for the North-London club.