First off, let’s start with Enzo Maresca. He has done an outstanding job at Chelsea. In recent years, the club has racked up impressive achievements: from winning the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Europa Conference League to securing a spot in this season’s UEFA Champions League via last season’s league performance. Chelsea have continued to put in solid displays this campaign, and Maresca’s work at the club has been nothing short of excellent.
There are two crucial points to note about Maresca. First, he is a former Manchester City man. He worked at the Man City Academy and served as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola. As such, Maresca has an intimate understanding of Man City, and the club has long held him in high regard. Should Guardiola decide to leave Man City one day, he will take part in internal discussions to recommend the most suitable candidate to take over his post.
That said, this is not something that will happen anytime soon. What I mean is, such a scenario could unfold in the summer of 2026. Guardiola truly has a high opinion of Maresca, which is why the Italian’s name has been a constant talking point within Man City’s corridors of power. This was the case when Txiki Begiristain was the club’s director of football, and it remains true now that Jorge Viana holds the position.
It is worth noting that Viana is also Portuguese, which leads us to the second key factor—Portugal. Viana has a close relationship with the renowned super-agent Jorge Mendes, one of the most influential football agents in the world, who also happens to represent Maresca. A few months ago, Maresca made the decision to sign with Jorge Mendes, appointing him as his new agent and representative. So, with these two factors in play—Man City’s long-standing familiarity with and admiration for
Maresca, coupled with Guardiola’s high opinion of him—his name is firmly in the mix.
On both a tactical and personal level, the bond between Guardiola and Maresca is strong. Then there is the connection to Jorge Mendes, and of course, Chelsea are also part of this story—we must not overlook that.
Recently, Maresca mentioned publicly that he endured the worst 48 hours of his tenure ahead of Chelsea’s win over Everton, feeling that he lacked support and so on. At the same time, however, Chelsea are quite satisfied with the work and efforts
Maresca has put in at the club. That much is certain. Additionally, you may recall that last summer, in August, Maresca stated publicly that he hoped to sign a new centre-back after Levi Colwill picked up an injury.
The transfer never materialized, though. So, there have been moments when Chelsea and Maresca have not seen eye to eye, but that is par for the course in football. What I can say is that Chelsea have absolutely no intention of sacking Maresca at this point. Yes, he has done a terrific job at the club, and Man City hold him in high regard—but we must not forget this crucial detail: Maresca is under contract with Chelsea. Therefore, any move in the summer of 2026 would require a substantial compensation fee to be paid. Chelsea have declined to comment on the matter.
Right now, Chelsea are fully focused on the current season, working hand in hand with Maresca. The club has consistently stated that it will evaluate the manager’s performance at the end of the season. As such, Chelsea are not going to discuss this issue now, nor will they divert their energy to it. So, to circle back to Man City’s admiration for Maresca—that is a known fact. Moreover, Viana shares a strong relationship with Mendes, who maintains good ties with Man City and numerous other clubs around the world. He is one of the top agents in the business. But for now, that is the extent of the situation. There is no further news to report.
We should also respect Maresca’s current commitment to his work. He is fully dedicated to Chelsea, with no distractions, and is determined to do everything in his power to lead the club to success. You can see the strong connection he has forged with the fans. So, while we keep in mind Man City’s admiration for him and the links to Mendes, it is still far too early to talk about any potential moves.
