Enzo Maresca may feel relieved that he no longer has to lead Chelsea. After a series of defeats against Newcastle, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain, along with controversies surrounding philosophy and signs of cracks from the dressing room when Marc Cucurella or Enzo Fernandez hinted at the possibility of leaving, Stamford Bridge is now no different from a battlefield.
However, top coaches rarely rest for too long. Maresca soon sent a signal to return in an energetic post on Instagram, affirming that this is just a time to recharge before entering the next challenge. And his potential destination is increasingly clear. That is Manchester City - where he once built his reputation in the role of coach.
Maresca's desire to succeed Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, along with secret contacts with Man City, is considered an important reason leading to the unexpected breakup with Chelsea on New Year's Day. In addition, the decline in achievements and internal conflicts, especially with the medical team, also contribute to cracking the relationship between him and the board of directors.
Looking from the outside, Maresca may be a controversial, even difficult-to-control coach. But what has happened in the past three months has somewhat changed that perspective. In the context of Man City preparing for the post-Guilario era, the Italian strategist is gradually emerging as a serious and suitable candidate for the hot seat at the Etihad.
It is not surprising that The Blues players expressed regret at the departure of a coach who is said to have re-established order in the dressing room. Maresca is highly appreciated for his prestige, not only because he worked with Guardiola during the season Man City won the treble, but also because he led the club's U23 team to win the Premier League 2 championship with young talents such as Cole Palmer and Liam Delap.
The Italian strategist then continued to affirm his ability when bringing Leicester City back to the Premier League right in the only season he held office. Ironically, the rare English team that does not really need the stability that Maresca brings is Man City.
However, the reigning Carabao Cup champion may be about to enter a volatile transition period if Guardiola closes his ten-year reign at the end of the season.
Currently, Guardiola has not made any official announcements about his future, only emphasizing that his contract is still valid for another year. However, Maresca's two meetings with Man City leaders, along with refusing to take over other teams since leaving Chelsea, further fueled speculation about his possibility of returning to Etihad.
Finding a successor to Guardiola is certainly a much more complex task than the problem that Liverpool faced when Jurgen Klopp left Anfield. Man City will also want to avoid repeating the scenario of Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
In that context, considering a coach who has been side by side with Guardiola in the most successful period, pursuing the same football philosophy and has proven his ability in many different environments, can be considered a reasonable choice. For Maresca, the calmness by the sea is probably just a short preparation before he returns to the fierce but attractive pace of the Premier League.
