LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Chelsea have opted for a change in the dugout after ending Enzo Maresca’s 18 month spell as head coach, a decision driven by concerns that the club’s season was drifting off course despite several objectives still within reach.

The Italian coach departs Stamford Bridge with Chelsea sitting fifth in the Premier League, a position that keeps Champions League qualification possible but leaves the club trailing leaders Arsenal by a significant 15-point margin.

Maresca’s exit follows a difficult run of form in the league, where Chelsea managed just one victory in their last seven matches, a sequence that increased pressure on both the manager and the club’s hierarchy.

Behind the scenes, reports of a strained working relationship between Maresca and key decision-makers at the club had been growing, adding to speculation that his long-term future was in doubt.

In a statement confirming the separation, Chelsea said both parties felt a managerial change would give the team the best opportunity to revive their campaign across four competitions, including the crucial push for Champions League football.

Maresca, who arrived in June 2024 after leaving Leicester City, had initially impressed by steering Chelsea to a fourth-place league finish last season, securing a return to Europe’s elite competition.

His tenure also delivered silverware, with Chelsea lifting both the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup, achievements that appeared to cement his position at the club at the time.

Despite those successes, recent results and internal tensions overshadowed earlier progress, ultimately prompting the club to act before the season reaches a decisive phase.

The 45-year-old’s final game in charge was a 2-2 home draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday night, a match that typified Chelsea’s recent inconsistency.

Maresca did not attend the post-match press conference, with the club later explaining his absence was due to illness, though the timing further fuelled speculation about his position.

Attention now turns to Chelsea’s next appointment, with Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior emerging as an early favourite among bookmakers, helped by the fact that both clubs are owned by BlueCo.

Other high-profile names, including former Barcelona coach Xavi, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, are also being linked as Chelsea prepare for a demanding January schedule that begins with a trip to Manchester City on Sunday.