Enzo Maresca has spoken out for the first time since he lost his job as Chelsea manager.
Maresca left his role at Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day, less than six months after winning the Club World Cup.
Despite a poor recent run, Chelsea have shown promising signs this season, sitting fifth in the Premier League at the time of Maresca’s departure.
But the Italian had begun to question those above him at the club and Chelsea decided to move him on rather than work through the issues.
U21 coach Calum McFarlane was placed in temporary charge of Chelsea and oversaw Sunday’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Ex-Strasbourg and Hull City manager Liam Rosenior was confirmed as Maresca’s permanent replacement on Tuesday.
‘My journey with Chelsea began with the preliminary rounds of the Conference League,’ Maresca, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024, said on Instagram.
‘I leave with the inner peace of leaving a prestigious club like Chelsea where it deserves to be.
‘I want to thank all the Chelsea fans for their support over the last 18 months. Support that was crucial to achieving Champions League qualification, winning the Conference League, and winning the Club World Cup.
‘Victories that I will always hold in my heart. A special thank you to all the players who have accompanied me on this wonderful journey.
‘I wish everyone who has shared every moment with me every success in this second half of the season and in the future.
‘Thank you, Chelsea from me and my family.’
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Maresca had a successful spell at Leicester City before taking over from Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
A former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Maresca has been earmarked as a potential successor to the legendary manager at the Etihad Stadium.
The 45-year-old has also been tentatively linked with Manchester United since Ruben Amorim lost his job at Old Trafford.
Following his appointment as Chelsea head coach, Rosenior said: ‘I am extremely humbled and honoured. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies.
‘I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.
‘There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club.’
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