Enzo Maresca Chelsea Future in Doubt as Manchester City Succession Links Emerge

 

Enzo Maresca Chelsea Future in Doubt as Manchester City Succession Links Emerge

 

ENZO MARESCA’S strange and intense week has taken yet another unexpected turn, and it could have serious consequences not just for Chelsea, but for the balance of power in the Premier League.

 

Only days after cryptically describing the build-up to Chelsea’s win over Everton as “the worst 48 hours” of his time at the club, Enzo Maresca has been linked with a stunning potential move to Manchester City as a future successor to Pep Guardiola according to reports from The Athletic.

 

 

For Chelsea, it is an awkward and uncomfortable development. For their owners, it may become the most important test of their ambition since they took control of the club.

 

A cryptic outburst that raised eyebrows

Maresca’s comments after the Everton win were impossible to ignore. His claim that the previous 48 hours had been the worst since he arrived at Stamford Bridge hinted strongly at frustration behind the scenes. While he stopped short of naming names, many assumed his frustration was aimed at the club’s hierarchy.

 

That frustration now looks even more significant. At the very moment when Chelsea’s owners appeared unsure about fully committing to Maresca long term, one of their biggest rivals may be positioning themselves to take him away.

 

For co-owner Todd Boehly, the timing could hardly be more unsettling. A manager who may have felt under-supported is now being discussed as a potential heir to one of the most powerful jobs in world football.

 

Chelsea face an uncomfortable question

If Manchester City truly believe Maresca could follow Guardiola, it forces Chelsea into a difficult position. Allowing him to leave without a fight would raise serious doubts about how committed the club really are to returning to the top of English football.

 

This is not simply about losing a coach. It is about credibility. Chelsea appointed Maresca as a bold, forward-thinking choice, trusting him to guide a young and unbalanced squad through a demanding rebuild. Letting him walk away now would suggest uncertainty at the very top of the club.

 

The situation is shaping up to be the biggest challenge faced by the ownership group since arriving in 2022.

 

A bold appointment that is starting to pay off

Enzo Maresca Chelsea Future in Doubt as Manchester City Succession Links Emerge

 

Appointing Maresca in 2024 was a gamble. The former midfielder had just guided Leicester City back to the Premier League, but he had never managed in the top flight before.

 

Yet, despite that lack of experience, the early signs have been encouraging. Replacing Mauricio Pochettino was never going to be easy, but Maresca has quietly steadied the ship.

 

In his first season, Chelsea finished fourth, lifted the Europa Conference League and followed that up with success at the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. Those achievements came despite limited attacking options, uncertainty in goal and a squad so large that several players had to be moved aside.

 

Progress, but not without problems

Life under Maresca has not been perfect. Chelsea’s discipline has been questioned, and inconsistency still creeps into their performances. Home defeats to Brighton and Sunderland showed the fragility that remains within the group.

 

Before the Everton win, Chelsea had failed to win three straight matches, losing to Leeds and Atalanta and drawing with Bournemouth. That run appeared to trigger Maresca’s emotional comments, suggesting he felt the pressure mounting.

 

Yet, the bigger picture remains positive. Chelsea sit fourth in the league, are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and are well placed to reach the Champions League knockout stages after an eye-catching win over Barcelona.

 

Talent, trust, and a growing reputation

Maresca has been able to build around elite talent, including Cole Palmer, Estevao and Moises Caicedo, while also reshaping the club’s style of play.

 

His reputation has not gone unnoticed. Guardiola himself recently said that Maresca’s work at Chelsea “does not get enough credit”, a remark that now feels loaded given the growing links between the two clubs.

 

Maresca previously worked under Guardiola during Manchester City’s 2022–23 season, learning the demands of elite management at close range. That connection alone makes the current speculation impossible to dismiss.

 

A defining moment for Chelsea’s owners

Over the coming months, Chelsea’s response will reveal their true intentions. Do they fully back the manager they appointed, or do they risk losing him to a direct rival?

 

With Manchester City looming in the background, the pressure is now firmly on Boehly, Behdad Eghbali and the Chelsea hierarchy to show unity, belief and ambition.

 

Maresca’s future may yet remain in west London. But if Chelsea hesitate, they may find that one of the most promising coaches in the Premier League is already slipping from their grasp — and into the hands of their biggest competitors.