Enzo Maresca apologies to Chelsea, who unleash furious statement as former boss hired by Man City

Chelsea have reacted to Enzo Maresca's appointment at Manchester City with bitterness and anger, launching a colorful explanation of the manager’s exit from London last season. The Blues says that both Man City and Maresca reached agreements to pay Chelsea money for his appointment. Sky Sports reports that Chelsea will get about $22.5 million from City. MORE — How will Maresca change City and can they win title? Calling their 2025-26 season "hugely disappointing," Chelsea heaped blame on Maresca having his head turned by Pep Guardiola's looming departure from City, saying that "a major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the Club was forced to make to the Head Coach position over the Christmas period." Sky said "when Chelsea became aware of City's interest, they reluctantly gave Maresca permission to speak to City but only on the understanding that he would leave this summer and only if Guardiola decided to depart City." Maresca stepped down in late December amid Chelsea struggles and after he clashed with the club in the Fall over their transfer policy and unwillingness to sign veteran players to help his title push. Chelsea said that Maresca "unexpectedly and abruptly resigned" and that he "let down" the club. Chelsea called new boss Xabi Alonso "a professional of the highest integrity" in a damning indictment of Maresca to close out the statement. Enzo Maresca apologizes to Chelsea Maresca might not have known the statement against him would be so explosive, but he took responsibility for the Chelsea upheaval. He says Chelsea did not ask him to leave London. "The decision was only mine," he said. "My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well. I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City. "I recognize that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologize for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish." We suspect the apology won't mean much, especially as Maresca takes the reins of a rival with a better squad.