Chelsea owner Eghbali made strong statements about Enzo Maresca’s departure earlier this year.
At the CAA World Congress of Sport, Eghbali admitted that Maresca’s departure was sudden and was not up to the club.
According to reports, his departure has had a “negative impact” on Chelsea’s campaign as the squad adapts to another leadership change.
Eghbali acknowledged that the club must now “move on” from the disruption caused by the change, which comes amid increasingly intense rumors linking Maresca with a job at Manchester City.
Eghbali has avoided details of the departure due to legal restrictions but insists the board did not want to fire the former Leicester City coach so soon.
“The change was not the club’s decision, for reasons I cannot discuss due to legal matters,” Eghbali told the Sports Business Journal. “I think the reasons will become more or less clear in due time. But no, it is not a change we wanted to make. It is a change that has affected the season by modifying systems and personnel, and we have to get past it.”
The coach, 46, arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2024, replacing Mauricio Pochettino. He managed 92 games (55 wins, 16 draws, 21 losses) until his firing in January 2026, following losses to Aston Villa (2-1) and Bournemouth (2-2).
Despite previous good results, such as the 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League and his naming as Premier League Manager of the Month in November, the owners, after a break with the board, decided to part ways with the former Leicester coach. With Maresca in charge, Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup.
Despite the arrival of Liam Rosenior as coach this year, the team is not convincing: 11 wins and 8 losses in 21 games. Eliminated from the Champions League in humiliating fashion against Paris Saint-Germain and currently out of position to return to the tournament next season, with a locker room that seems to be broken and fans who feel the club has lost its essence.
Now the Blues face Manchester United in the Premier League in their fight to stay in the race for Champions League spots. Without a doubt, it will be an excellent match as the Red Devils want the same goal.
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