'Chelsea's fundamental problems not Maresca's fault'

[BBC] [Getty Images] Chelsea's statement about the departure of Enzo Maresca is full of frustration being released. It feels like the Blues have been waiting to give their side of the story ever since his resignation in January. It doesn't pull any punches on a personal level, and it directly blames the coach's sudden exit for the horrible season that Chelsea just endured. But is that a fair assessment? There is no denying it was hugely disruptive, or that the team got significantly worse once he left. The revelation that he had told Chelsea in the autumn that he was considering leaving also explains why things had started to fall apart long before his actual resignation. The fundamental problems with the squad construction and club strategy were not Maresca's fault, but Chelsea do have a point in that his actions massively exacerbated them. However, the sporting directors who chose to appoint Maresca, who never felt truly committed, and then made an even bigger mistake appointing Liam Rosenior to succeed him, are just as much at fault. Find more from Will Faulks at Talk Chelsea