Cole Palmer is among 15 first team stars yet to react to Enzo Maresca’s shock Chelsea departure, but eight have offered emotional tributes to their former head coach.
Chelsea players reported to their Cobham training base on Friday after two days off following their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
The match proved Maresca’s final game in charge of the club, with the club officially announcing his exit at 12.18pm on Thursday following a dramatic breakdown in relations between the Italian and his bosses.
In the 24 hours since, just eight Chelsea stars have sent goodbye messages to their former manager publicly, with Palmer among those yet to publicly comment on Marsesca’s exit.
Enzo Fernandez and Robert Sanchez offered the largest tributes to Maresca, with the pair thanking the Italian and his coaching staff.
‘Mister, thank you for everything shared and experienced during this stage, I learned a lot and I value every advice and experience,’ Fernandez wrote.
‘Wishing you and your coaching staff, Willy, Dani, Robi, Marcos and Mickey, all the best. We won two titles together that I will never forget. Much success to you and hopefully our paths will cross again in the future. A big hug.’
Sanchez wrote in his tribute: ‘Thank you for everything Enzo, Mickey, Willy, Dani, Marcos and Robi. Very grateful for the trust and the memories we shared, those will live with me forever. Wishing you all the best for the future, will miss you all.’
Left back Marc Cucurella wrote: ‘Thank you for everything, mister, and to your staff. For the work and the trust from day one, and for the memories. Wishing you all the best in what comes next. Good luck, boss!’
Cucurella’s message included a photo with Maresca as they celebrated winning the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer.
Further tributes were shared by Filip Jorgensen, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto and Moises Caicedo.
A message was also posted by Trevoh Chalobah, who had been loaned out to Crystal Palace after being part of Chelsea’s bomb squad last year, before returning to become a regular first team player under Maresca.
‘Thank you so much for everything, coach. Your belief in me and your constant encouragement meant the world,’ Chalobah wrote.
‘I truly appreciate all you’ve done to help us grow. Wishing you nothing but the best for your future.’
Maresca’s departure follows a turbulent period which has seen the side win just one of their last seven Premier League matches.
The Chelsea squad will have to put Maresca’s exit behind them quickly to prepare to face Man City this weekend.
Chelsea travel to the Etihad on Sunday, with Under 21 head coach Calum McFarlane, along with his assistants, preparing the players for the match.
Maresca’s replacement is expected to be in place in the near future and could even oversee Wednesday’s west London derby at Fulham.
Liam Rosenior, the 41-year-old who manages their BlueCo sister club Strasbourg, is viewed as the favourite to succeed Maresca.
The former Hull City manager has his admirers within the BlueCo hierarchy.
The aim is for a new manager to continue working under the same system as Maresca, and to avoid the need to make major changes midway through a season in which the club remain fifth, despite their recent run.
Club bosses — including co-owner Behdad Eghbali and sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart — had talks Thursday morning and Maresca’s exit was confirmed soon after.
The writing had been on the wall for Maresca after a spectacular outburst in which he claimed he had endured ‘his worst 48 hours’ following a victory over Everton.
It is thought that the claim related to serious friction between the manager and the medical department and a continuing difference of opinion over the management of injured players and their returns to action.
