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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jacob Steinberg

Manchester City succession sheds light on Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea departure

Enzo Maresca, then the Chelsea manager, stands on the touchline with Pep Guardiola
Enzo Maresca (left) is the heir presumptive to the departing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Now the secret is out it is possible to look at Enzo Maresca’s incendiary remarks about his “worst 48 hours” at Chelsea through a different lens. Change is coming at Manchester City, who are preparing for Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of the season, and it does not require much reading between the lines to work out their decision to pass the crown to Maresca was made a long time ago.

There never was a clear explanation from the Italian after he sat in front of the media after Chelsea’s unspectacular 2-0 win over Everton on 13 December and surprised the room by taking the extraordinary step of going to war with his employers. “Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn’t support us,” he said. “People didn’t support me and the team.”

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