Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca Emerges as Potential Successor to Pep Guardiola at Man City
Ben McAleer
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is being considered as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola should the Manchester City boss leave the Etihad Stadium next summer, reports The Athletic.
Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension with the Cityzens last November, which is due to expire in 2027.
However, there is a growing anticipation that this season will be Guardiola’s last at the club, and City are planning for the Spaniard’s exit next summer.
Maresca worked under Guardiola at City and the Italian is still highly thought of by the decision makers at the Premier League title contenders.
Maresca's Chelsea future in doubt
The 45-year-old’s current Chelsea contract runs until 2029, and the Blues have an option to extend that deal by a further year.
Conversely, uncertainty over his future at Stamford Bridge has risen in recent days after Maresca described the build up to Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton last weekend as “the worst 48 hours since I joined the club, because many people didn’t support us”.
Maresca declined to comment further on what he meant by his comments, while he oversaw a 3-1 win over Cardiff on Tuesday as the Blues booked their spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, where they’ll face the winner of Arsenal’s game against Crystal Palace next week.
Guardiola won't make immediate return to football post-City
Guardiola, meanwhile, has stated that he’d be willing to take a break from management once he leaves City.
The 54-year-old succeeded Manuel Pellegrini for the Manchester giants back in 2016, and he’s closing in on his 10-year anniversary at the Etihad Stadium.
“After my contract with City, I’m going to stop. I am sure. I don’t know if I’m going to retire, but I’m going to take a break,” Guardiola said in May.
The subject was broached again in October, to which the City boss said: “At the moment, I think I have the energy with my players to simply make a better season than last season.
“There is the margin that we can do better in many aspects and that gives me the energy that it’s not job done. It’s completely unfinished business. That’s why I am here.”
City, who themselves booked their spot in the next round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, take on West Ham on Saturday afternoon, and they have the chance to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the table with a win over the Hammers.
The Gunners, meanwhile, face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday night.
