Chelsea manager leaves Premier League club

Manager Enzo Maresca has left Chelsea after a tempestuous end to his 19 months in charge at the Premier League club.

Italian Maresca was booed by supporters during the 2-2 draw at home to 15th-placed Bournemouth on Tuesday, which extended the Blues’ poor league run to one win in nine matches and left them 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.

“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track,” Chelsea said.

In cryptic remarks after Chelsea’s 2-0 home win over Everton on December 13, Maresca said the preceding 48 hours had been “the hardest” since he joined the club “because so many people didn’t support me and the team.”

The 45-year-old said his comments were not about fans but has refused to elaborate on them or clarify the subject of his disgruntlement.

Enzo Maresca: Why has manager left Chelsea?

Maresca had a “complete breakdown in his relationship” with Chelsea, who “had their patience tested” by his tactical decisions and behaviour off the pitch, according to the Guardian.

Assistant manager Willy Caballero said Maresca had been unwell for two days when the Argentine assumed media duties after the draw with the Cherries, but the report cited claims that Maresca had opted not to appear because he was “considering his options after growing dissatisfied with elements of the Chelsea project”, adding that his absence created “further tensions”.

Chelsea are said to have been considering sacking Maresca in January if their poor form continued. They are in the seeded positions for a Champions League knockout phase play-off place after taking 10 points from the first six games of their European campaign, two points behind the automatic last-16 spots and four ahead of the elimination positions.

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