"Chelsea Co-Owner Clarifies Maresca's Exit Was Not the Club's Decision, Acknowledges 'Negative Impact'"

CHELSEA co-owner Behdad Eghbali has revealed the shock exit of boss Enzo Maresca was NOT the club’s decision.

short of going into the full details, saying he could not provide them due to legal reasons.

Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali (left) has said the club did not want to sack Enzo Maresca mid season Credit: PA Enzo Maresca who won the Club World Cup left his role on the 1st day of January 2026 Credit: AFP

The Blues chief lifted the lid on the sudden departure, admitting it has already had a damaging effect on the team’s season.

Eghbali said at the CAA World Congress of Sports : “The change wasn’t the club’s decision, for reasons I can’t speak about legally.

“I think the reasons will become kind of clear in due course. But no, it’s not a change we wanted to make.”

He also conceded the upheaval has disrupted performances on the pitch.

He added: “It’s a change that’s had a bit of a negative impact on the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel.

“And it’s one we’ve got to fight our way out of.”

Maresca’s exit came as a major surprise with little explanation given at the time.

But SunSports understand that the Italian’s relationship with chiefs fell apart in December and descended into a war of words.

The Italian fired the first shots, claiming he had suffered the “worst 48 hours” of his Blues reign because of a lack of support following a defeat at Atalanta.

Claims later emerged Maresca had repeatedly ignored advice from the club’s medical department about how long to keep players on the pitch who were recovering from injury.

Reports have strongly linked Maresca to the Man City job if Pep Guardiola was to leave his role this summer Credit: Reuters The former Chelsea boss was one of Pep’s assistant during the club’s most successful period Credit: AFP

Chelsea bosses were also said to be unimpressed about Maresca’s representatives talking to former club about the possibility of him replacing Pep Guardiola, as well as with Juventus.

Maresca’s camp insisted they had made the Blues aware of the discussions.

Eghbali’s reference to the reasons for Maresca’s departure becoming “kind of clear in due course” hints he has a new job lined up at City, Juve or elsewhere.

Things unravelled quickly between the Italian and chiefs after a home defeat by Aston Villa and a home draw with Bournemouth just after Christmas.

Maresca and the club parted ways on January 1. The Italian is understood to have resigned rather than hold out for a £14m pay-off, having grown tired of what he regarded as interference from his bosses in his management of the team.