Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca avoided naming Chelsea directly while reflecting on his career highlights during an appearance on Viaplay's Premier Sunday.
The Italian tactician described himself as "quite lucky", reminiscing about his time at Leicester. He then succinctly stated:
The season when I was here, then left... and then I joined another club. Over the past four or five years, we've won titles everywhere. And it could happen again here.
Chelsea fans quickly noted that while Maresca explicitly referred to Leicester, he only referred to his time at Chelsea as "another club", instead portraying Manchester City as the continuation of his trophy-laden journey.
The backstory of the fallout
The relationship soured during his controversial departure from Stamford Bridge. Maresca began his coaching career within the structures of Manchester City, working his way up from the youth team to assistant to Pep Guardiola during the treble-winning season. In 2023, he took charge at Leicester, quickly winning the Championship and in June 2024, made the switch to Chelsea.
During his 18 months at Chelsea, Maresca managed 92 matches, securing 55 wins. His first season saw the team finish in the Premier League top four, lift the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy, and achieve a stunning 3-0 victory over PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
However, his second season was marred by tensions. Following a win against Everton in December 2025, Maresca publicly lamented experiencing the "worst 48 hours" due to a perceived lack of trust from those around him and the fans. Despite having a contract until 2029 and asserting that he would stay, the Italian unexpectedly resigned on January 1, 2026, leaving the team fifth in the league. Chelsea's hierarchy claimed he had conducted hidden negotiations regarding succeeding Guardiola, releasing a statement about his departure without even mentioning him by name. City reportedly paid around £17-20 million for his release, with Chelsea subsequently appointing Xabi Alonso as manager.
By June 2026, Maresca was officially presented at the Etihad, describing the club's structure as exemplary. However, Chelsea fans perceived his reference to "another club" not as a slip of the tongue but as a deliberate slight towards a club he had helped clinch two prestigious trophies, expressing hope that Xabi Alonso's side could overcome their rival in their next encounter.
