Enzo Maresca, di former Chelsea coach, don show say im decision to leave Stamford Bridge na correct calculation wey save im reputation. According to reports from TalkSPORT, Maresca conclude say if e remain for Chelsea hierarchy, im coaching name go suffer more long-term risk pass if e just pack im load comot. Na real gbege dey for dat club side.
Wetin make am reach dis conclusion? Even though Maresca guide Chelsea win historic UEFA Conference League title and secure FIFA Club World Cup trophy, plus bring di club back to Champions League qualification for im first season, di wahala inside di club still too much. As e often happen with Chelsea managers, things just dey go downhill. Issues wey dey inside di club force Maresca into corner, and im see say di internal instability for Stamford Bridge go eventually undermine any coach wey dey there.
Since im departure for January, Maresca don strategically distance imself from di dugout. E dey bide im time. And now, im personal stock don high well-well. By leaving with im reputation intact and two trophies for im resume, e don avoid di serious slump wey dey affect di current regime wey Liam Rosenior dey suffer under now. From afar before, some people think say Maresca na cantankerous figure wey clubs go avoid. But events for di last three months don begin paint am for better light.
Di man even dey enjoy imself for Maldives with im family, gazing out at ocean from infinity pool. For im blissful Instagram post, e make am clear say dis na just “time to recharge” ahead of di next demanding job. E no be say e go dey lounge about for beach forever.
And dat next job dey look increasingly likely to be at Manchester City. Yes, Chelsea next opponents. Na there Maresca build im reputation as coach before. Im interest to succeed Pep Guardiola for Etihad Stadium and di meetings wey im reportedly hold with City na big factor for im sudden departure from Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Of course, other reasons cause di breakdown for im relationship with club hierarchy—sharp decline for results, im feud with medical team, all join.
But from how things dey now, Maresca’s move dey increasingly viewed as masterstroke of career preservation. E correctly identify di problem. Since im comot, things don only worsen for Chelsea. From defeats by Newcastle, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain, to controversies ranging from ‘respecting the ball’ to Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez wey dey heavily hint say dem go open to leave, Stamford Bridge resemble battlefield compare to Maresca’s recent idyllic getaway.
Currently, Maresca na di frontrunner to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City when di Catalan step down, potentially by end of dis season. Elite football coaches no dey rest for long. Di Italian don position imself well. By walking away from di project entirely, e protect im long-term prospects. Now, as primary candidate for one of di biggest jobs for world football, im calculation don prove right. Di risk of staying don turn to reward for leaving.
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