Maresca departure contributed to Chelsea's chaotic campaign

[Getty Images] Everyone at Chelsea respects the quality of Enzo Maresca's management, but his departure ultimately ended in fraught circumstances. His decision to resign, which he has now admitted " opened a path " for him to join Manchester City , proved damaging to Chelsea's season. It contributed to a chaotic campaign in which they finished 10th, sacked another manager and cost the club millions in lost television revenue. It led to a prolonged legal dispute that has only recently been resolved, allowing all parties to draw a line under the matter. For Chelsea, Maresca's first season will still be remembered as their most successful under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. They qualified for the Champions League for the only time in four years since acquiring the club from Roman Abramovich, and won their first silverware in the Club World Cup and the Conference League. City, meanwhile, have secured Chelsea's highest regarded manager since Thomas Tuchel, one who also has the backing of Pep Guardiola, having previously served as his assistant during a Treble-winning campaign. [BBC]