Chelsea have launched a brutal attack on their former head coach Enzo Maresca for how he dismantled their last season as he was announced the new manager of Manchester City, who are paying a compensation package worth £17million to hire him.
In a statement released by Chelsea, they did not specifically name Maresca but rather referred to him as their ‘former head coach’ throughout, as they accused the Italian of not ‘fulfilling his responsibilities’ and having his ‘head and heart’ with City.
In his own statement released at the same time, Maresca apologised, insisting it was never his intention to suddenly leave Chelsea in the lurch with his New Year’s Day departure.
In a financial settlement with City, Chelsea are set to receive £17m. Maresca is also due to pay his own compensation to his former club, but that figure has not been revealed.
Chelsea’s bombshell statement read: ‘Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025-26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the club and its supporters. A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the club was forced to make to the head coach position over the Christmas period.
Man City has officially appointed Enzo Maresca as the club’s successor to Pep Guardiola
Maresca previously worked under Pep Guardiola – and City will have to pay £17m to hire him
‘Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former head coach left the club on 1 January 2026.
‘In autumn last year, the club was informed by our former head coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.
‘In December 2025, our head coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.
‘No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the badge and accept his resignation.
‘In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former head coach under which he will pay compensation.
‘Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the club’s supporters deserve and expect.’
Maresca is pictured in City’s publicity shots after they settled furious Chelsea’s demands
Maresca’s statement read: ‘At the end of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea. The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well.
‘I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City.
‘I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish.
‘I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure. I am grateful to the club, the owners and the fans for the giving me the opportunity.’
Guardiola waved an emotional farewell to the Etihad at the end of the season after a trophy-laden decade in charge.
Maresca had already had two previous spells at City – first in 2020 where he led the Elite Development Squad and then rejoining in 2022 as one of Guardiola’s assistants after a spell as Parma boss.
Maresca said after the news was confirmed on Monday: ‘Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me. City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.
‘This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations. The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability.
‘I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.’
Daily Mail Sport reported last month that Chelsea were demanding compensation from City in the event of Maresca’s appointment at the Etihad, with the Blues primed to take legal action over the matter.
Stamford Bridge officials were left incensed with the Italian amid allegations he had spoken with City while still in post with them.
Chelsea insisted they were owed a financial settlement for how Maresca departed them mid-season. He departed on New Year’s Day with three and a half years remaining on his contract.
Maresca led Chelsea to the Conference League and Club World Cup – but they say they felt ‘let down’ by his behaviour
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: ‘Enzo is someone who has always sought out opportunities to challenge himself and succeed in his managerial career. He brings a personality, passion and intelligence completely aligned to our needs. He is rejoining an organisation that is entirely in lock-step with his ambition and hunger for achievement and his return to Manchester City is therefore a welcome natural next step for both him and the club.
‘Enzo inherits a squad and football organisation perfectly suited to reflect and evolve his brand of football, and we are all very much looking forward to seeing the impact he can have in building further on the club’s success. Welcome home Enzo.’
Maresca left Chelsea in early January with his position viewed as untenable after he skipped post-match media duties following a draw with Bournemouth. The club had been in second place before a run of poor results that preceded his departure.
Replacement Liam Rosenior was unable to turn things around and the club’s disappointing campaign continued under the stewardship of interim head coach Calum McFarlane, who ended his temporary stint in charge with a 2-1 defeat against Sunderland, slipping to a woeful 10th place finish in the final table.
Manchester City, who are still locked in a legal battle with the Premier League over 115 alleged breaches of the league’s financial rules, will be hoping to return to the summit of English football under Maresca after missing out on the title two years in a row.
City are not the only high-profile team heading into next season with a new permanent boss at the helm, with Andoni Iraola replacing Arne Slot at Liverpool, Xabi Alonso taking charge at Stamford Bridge and Michael Carrick continuing his duties at Manchester United after an impressive spell as interim head coach.
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