"Destroyed" - Enzo Maresca Fires Indirect Shot At Chelsea After Champions League Defeat To PSG | OneFootball

Maresca could also be trying to poach Enzo Fernandez, who has now returned to pre-season. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Former Chelsea head coach and new Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has fired a shot at his former club just one month into his tenure.

Maresca, who departed Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day after just a season and a half in charge, returned to football management after only six months out of the game to replace Pep Guardiola.

Despite winning the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, the Italian walked away from the London club following ‘disagreements with medical staff’ and after informing the club of interest from two rival clubs in his final months.

Speaking with The Athletic in Seoul, South Korea, during Man City's pre-season tour, Maresca was asked about man-marking, and his answer appeared to contain an unprovoked dig at his former club and his successor, Liam Rosenior.

“I’m not sure it’s going to continue like that," said the Italian. "For instance, if you see last season when Newcastle played Barcelona and it was 6-1. Atalanta and Bayern Munich was 6-1. Chelsea tried to go man-to-man with PSG when I left and they destroyed them."

Liam Rosenior succeeded Maresca and signed a six-year contract, but was swiftly moved on in April after five successive Premier League defeats and a devastating exit to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League just weeks earlier.

Chelsea were punished for a series of errors in the first leg against PSG in the Champions League back in March, losing 5-2 in Paris before suffering a 3-0 defeat in the second leg at Stamford Bridge, exiting at the last-16 stage. A humiliating tie on the European stage in terms of errors.

Noise surrounding the former Leicester City and Chelsea head coach dominated the latter stages of the 2025/26 season, with the Blues finishing 10th and missing out on European football entirely for just the third time in 25 years.

Maresca will be hoping to secure bragging rights over his former side in the Premier League. REUTERS/Kim Soo-Hyeon

What happened following Enzo Maresca's exit from Chelsea?

Despite agreeing to take over from Guardiola in May, Maresca had to wait to be officially confirmed as Manchester City manager while the two clubs negotiated a settlement. City were forced to pay Chelsea an astonishing £17 million in compensation, while Maresca also agreed to a separate personal settlement with his former club. The official announcement eventually took place on June 29.

In light of City’s announcement, Chelsea themselves felt it was appropriate to issue a statement to outline how Maresca's exit unfolded, stating that 'no club wants to change its head coach midway through a season', whilst highlighting that the 46-year-old had a ‘strong desire to succeed Guardiola’ and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, stressing that ‘his head and heart were focused on another club’.

Chelsea also took the opportunity to praise Xabi Alonso’s integrity as a professional while endorsing his overall attributes to deliver success at Stamford Bridge, following his summer appointment on a four-year contract. Chelsea travel to Craven Cottage on August 24 to face west London rivals Fulham in their opening fixture of the 2026/27 campaign.

With tensions already high between Chelsea supporters and Maresca, the situation could soon intensify. Strong reports are linking Chelsea and Argentina star Enzo Fernandez with a move to the Etihad, a transfer Maresca is believed to be keen on. The club are standing firm on their £120m valuation as they head into the final weeks of the transfer window.

Manchester City and Chelsea are due to meet for the first time this season on December 12 at the Etihad, with the reverse fixture not taking place at Stamford Bridge until April 24 next year.