Sol Campbell claims it is ‘obvious’ that Enzo Maresca left Chelsea for ‘another job’ following his exit from Stamford Bridge.
Maresca left his position as Chelsea head coach on New Year’s Day and Campbell believes he quit for ‘another job’.
The Italian’s departure came less than six months after he won the Club World Cup at the end of his first season at Chelsea.
Maresca also won the Conference League during his brief spell in west London and had Chelsea fifth in the Premier League at the time of his departure.
Chelsea enjoyed a hugely promising run earlier in the season – thumping Spanish champions Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League and threatening to mount a title challenge – but claimed just six points in six games in December to slip 15 behind title favourites Arsenal.
The bigger issue, it would seem, was Maresca’s increasingly strained relationship with those above him at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea intended to review Maresca’s role at the end of the season but decided to pull the plug on New Year’s Day, bringing in Liam Rosenior as his replacement.
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Campbell has questioned Maresca’s decision to leave Chelsea and says he must have ‘another job lined up’ given his willingness to move on.
Maresca has been named as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City but the legendary manager is contracted to the Sky Blues for another season-and-a-half.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have been linked with Maresca after sacking Ruben Amorim last week.
‘I just think Enzo Maresca is lined up for another job,’ ex-Arsenal and England defender Campbell told Sky Bet. ‘You don’t leave that situation unless you’re lined up for another job.
‘What could be rubbing him up the wrong way to leave a club like Chelsea with great young players and a club going in the right direction?
‘He’s obviously lined up for another job – or potentially another job anyway.’
Rosenior oversaw a comfortable 5-1 FA Cup win over Championship side Charlton in his first game in charge of Chelsea.
The Blues poached Rosenior, a former Premier League defender who played for the likes of Hull City, Fulham and Reading, from their sister club Strasbourg.
Rosenior impressed at the Ligue 1 side but his only managerial experience before that came at Championship outfit Hull.
Campbell can see why Chelsea decided on Rosenior as Maresca’s replacement but cannot see the 41-year-old lasting very long at Stamford Bridge.
‘It’s nice to have Liam Rosenior in there as the new Chelsea manager,’ Campbell added. ‘That’s come from the fact Todd Boehly owns Strasbourg.
‘They’ve said, “He’s done really well – ship him over to Chelsea.” So, it’s worked out for him.
‘It’s great to have a young manager in the league. But I don’t think they’re going to stick with him, he’s just going to be there for a little while, for sure.
‘But it’s great experience. He can get some games under his belt and see what the top league is all about. That will be great for him. I hope he does well going forward.’
Rosenior’s first real test as Chelsea manager comes on Wednesday as the Blues face Premier League leaders Arsenal in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
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