Enzo Maresca don conclude say him coaching reputation face more long-term risk if e remain inside Chelsea hierarchy than if e just walk away from the project entirely. Na true say Maresca guide the club win historic UEFA Conference League title and secure FIFA Club World Cup, but even that one no enough.
Him debut season also see return to Champions League qualification, give the BlueCo project first taste of silverware. But as e dey often happen with Chelsea managers, things go downhill as issues inside the club force Maresca into corner.
Since him departure, Maresca strategically distance himself from the dugout, dey bide him time as primary candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. But e look like say him exit na calculated move to preserve him reputation instead of to oversee decline wey don only worsen since e leave.
According to TalkSPORT, Enzo Maresca feel say him reputation for don more damaged if e stay at Stamford Bridge than if e walk away for January. Maresca personal stock arguably never been higher before.
By leaving with him reputation intact and two trophies for him resume, e don avoid the slump wey dey now associate with the current regime. Currently, na frontrunner to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Maresca move dey increasingly viewed as masterstroke of career preservation.
E correctly identify say the internal instability at Stamford Bridge go eventually undermine any coach, wey dey now see Liam Rosenior dey suffer. As Enzo Maresca gaze out at the ocean from him infinity pool, e must don grateful say e no longer dey manage Chelsea.
From defeats at the hands of Newcastle, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain to controversies ranging from ‘respecting the ball’ to Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez heavily hinting say dem go open to leave, Stamford Bridge resemble battlefield when you compare am with Maresca recent idyllic getaway for Maldives.
But elite football coaches no dey rest for long, and the Italian make am clear for him blissful Instagram post say e no go dey lounge about for beach with him family forever. This na “time to recharge” ahead of the next demanding job.
And that job dey look increasingly likely to be at Manchester City, Chelsea next opponents and where e build him reputation as coach. Maresca interest in succeeding Pep Guardiola at Etihad Stadium and the meetings wey dem reportedly hold with City na big factor for him sudden departure from Chelsea on New Year Day.
Although other reasons dey for the breakdown for him relationship with the club hierarchy, including sharp decline results and him feud with the medical team. From afar, e look like Maresca na cantankerous figure wey most clubs go want steer well clear of.
But events over the last three months don begin paint am in positive light and make Maresca seem like suitable candidate to step into Guardiola shoes when the Catalan step down, potentially at the end of this season.