Marc Cucurella Leads Chelsea Reaction After Enzo Maresca Exit

Chelsea’s dressing room has finally started to react after Enzo Maresca’s sudden departure, and Marc Cucurella was the first player to publicly break his silence.

On Thursday, Chelsea confirmed they had parted ways with Enzo Maresca following a difficult December run in the Premier League. According to the club, the decision came after talks between Maresca and the board, with both sides agreeing that a change was needed to steady the season. Chelsea won just one of their last seven league matches, a slide that dropped them to fifth place and left them 15 points behind leaders Arsenal, despite title talk only weeks earlier.

The timing raised plenty of eyebrows. Chelsea are set to face second-placed Manchester City on Sunday, and the club has not yet confirmed who will take charge on the touchline. As first reported by ESPN, former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero is expected to lead the team on an interim basis, having already stepped in during Maresca’s recent Premier League suspension.

In its official statement, Chelsea avoided the word “sack,” instead saying: “With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the Club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.” Multiple reports, including ESPN, indicate the decision was unanimous among the club’s hierarchy.

While the announcement focused on results, sources told ESPN that Maresca’s exit was also linked to a breakdown in relationships with Chelsea’s ownership. Those same sources pointed to growing concern over the 45-year-old’s public expressions of frustration. Enzo Maresca himself admitted last month he had endured “the worst 48 hours” of his time at the club before a 2-0 win over Everton, comments that reportedly surprised even members of his own staff.

Against that backdrop, Cucurella’s message stood out. The Spain international, who has arguably enjoyed his best spell at Chelsea under Maresca, posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute. Cucurella acknowledged Maresca’s departure with a brief Instagram message, thanking him and his staff for the trust shown throughout their time together and wishing the former Chelsea coach well in his future endeavors.

Cucurella’s gratitude makes sense. Under Maresca’s system, the left-back was given significant freedom, often stepping into an inverted midfield role and pushing high into the final third. That trust translated into heavy minutes. According to Premier League statistics, Cucurella has played 1,507 league minutes this season, the fourth-most in the squad behind Robert Sánchez, Trevoh Chalobah, and Enzo Fernández.

Enzo Maresca’s final match came Tuesday, a tense 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth. Fans booed at full time, and chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” rang out after Cole Palmer was substituted. Enzo Maresca did not attend the post-match press conference, with the club citing illness.

Hired in July 2024, Enzo Maresca leaves with notable achievements. He guided Chelsea back into the Champions League with a fourth-place finish last season and added both the Conference League and the inaugural Club World Cup. His contract ran through 2029, with an option for an extra year.

As reported by ESPN, Chelsea are already looking ahead. Liam Rosenior, currently in charge of BlueCo-owned Strasbourg, is considered a potential long-term option, while Oliver Glasner is not in the running. For now, attention turns to Sunday — and to how Chelsea respond without the coach who reshaped players like Cucurella along the way.

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