Chelsea took the drastic option of inserting the club’s head of medical onto the bench after former manager Enzo Maresca repeatedly refused to substitute players returning from injury, Daily Mail Sport understands.
It can also be disclosed that officials also sent the former manager a formal letter to remind him of his responsibilities as the relationship between the Italian and his bosses reached breaking point at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, who had guided his team to the Club World Cup trophy in the summer, was shown the door earlier this month following a spectacular and rapid fall from grace.
The first hint that all may not be well behind the scenes came when he publicly declared he had endured the worst 48 hours of his career following a victory over Everton in December.
Sources have disclosed that a major rift had developed over the treatment of those coming back from injury, and instances were Maresca was deemed to have gone against medical advice.
Following ‘re-injuries’ to two, unnamed players, Chelsea took the unusual step of inserting no-nonsense Australian Bryce Cavanagh into the technical area. The move was made so Cavanagh, formerly the FA’s head of performance and a highly regarded sports scientist, could remind Maresca of the agreed times when those coming back from injury should be taken off to minimise the risk of a relapse. As is often the case, those returning from lay-offs have staged recovery plans, where they gradually build up to getting back to playing for 90 minutes over a number of games rather than immediately playing the full game on their comeback.
In certain circumstances, it is thought Cavanagh also advised Maresca that those who had been given a specific time to come off could actually remain on the field for longer given how their bodies had reacted to how the game had developed and the load they had been placed under.
While Cavanagh did not sit next to Maresca, he was placed into the technical area as part of an attempt to ensure recovery plans were adhered to.
It is thought that Cavanagh, whose remit of performance director includes the club’s medical operation, took his place for the first time at an away match on December 20, a week after Maresca’s first outburst. He had been in position previously for a number of home matches.
Such was the deterioration in the relationship that a letter from Chelsea was sent to the manager over his actions with regards to playing time for those coming back from lay-offs.
The relationship was further strained when Maresca told the club he had held talks with representatives of Manchester City and Juventus in October and December.
Chelsea declined to comment. Following Maresca’s departure, the club have turned to Liam Rosenior, whose time in charge started with a 5-1 FA Cup victory at Charlton. Rosenior joined from Strasbourg, part of Chelsea’s US owners’ BlueCo’s multi-club model.
A representative for Maresca has been approached for comment.
