Chelsea sensationally sacked Italian coach Enzo Maresca earlier this month following a stunning outburst but it appears that the writing was on the wall for the former Leicester boss before then
Chelsea forced former boss Enzo Maresca to have the club’s head of medical on the bench after he ignored instructions about returning players. The Italian regularly butted heads with club officials when it came to his usage of stars returning from injuries.
During the final weeks of his spell at Stamford Bridge, he refused to substitute a host of players, who had been put on pre-agreed plans to build up minutes following their returns to action. And once that came to the attention of decision makers in West London, they were forced to take action.
When two unnamed players were ‘reinjured’, the club’s head of medical Bryce Cavanagh was handed a spot in the Chelsea technical area. The move was made in an effort to remind Maresca of his agreement to take players off.
Cavanagh did not sit next to the former Chelsea boss but advised the Italian on how long certain stars should be on the pitch. He was in situ for a host of home games, while he also appeared on the bench for the first time in an away game just before Christmas.
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Kavanagh’s introduction on the bench was not the only move that the Blues made in order to make sure Maresca abided by their advice. It is suggested by the Daily Mail that chiefs sent a letter to the Italian to remind him of his obligations when it came to playing time for those returning from injury.
Maresca penned a short statement immediately after his exit from Stamford Bridge. He wrote: “My journey with Chelsea began with the preliminary rounds of the Conference League. I leave with the inner peace of leaving a prestigious club like Chelsea where it deserves to be.
“I want to thank all the Chelsea fans for their support over the last 18 months. Support that was crucial to achieving Champions League qualification, winning the Conference League, and winning the Club World Cup. Victories that I will always hold in my heart!
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“A special thank you to all the players who have accompanied me on this wonderful journey. I wish everyone who has shared every moment with me every success in this second half of the season and in the future. Thank you, CHELSEA from me and my family.”
Maresca’s exit came in the aftermath of his bizarre outburst claiming that he had been given ‘no support’ across what was his ‘worst 48 hours’ at the club. The former Leicester boss was eventually replaced by Liam Rosenior, who arrived from French side Strasbourg and penned a six-and-a-half year deal.
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