The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Maresca Leaves Chelsea Ahead of Man City Showdown

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Matt (The Athletic)
Guests: David Ornstein, Simon Johnson, Mark Critchley, Beren Cross

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on Chelsea’s surprise parting with head coach Enzo Maresca, the club’s turbulent managerial situation under new ownership, and the immediate challenges facing both Chelsea and their interim setup as they face Manchester City in the Premier League. The panel—comprised of The Athletic’s top football reporters—breaks down the circumstances around Maresca’s exit, the likely appointment of Liam Rosenior from Strasbourg, and what it all means for Chelsea’s wider project. The episode also previews key Premier League fixtures of the weekend, with special attention to Man City vs Chelsea, and the Leeds vs Man Utd rivalry.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Enzo Maresca Saga at Chelsea

• Initial Signs of Tension:

  • Maresca's news conference comments during his first season hinted at unrest with Stamford Bridge hierarchy, despite on-field success (Conference League win, Champions League qualification, Club World Cup).
  • Publicly requested a new centre-half after Levi Colwill’s injury, but was rebuffed by the club.
    (04:30 – 05:30, David Ornstein)

• Agent and Career Maneuvering:

  • Maresca hires super-agent Jorge Mendes, fueling speculation about his ambitions—recently linked to Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s possible successor.
    (06:20, David Ornstein)

• Breakdown with Chelsea Management:

  • Maresca’s contract required him to alert Chelsea of other clubs’ interest; he informed them of City links both in October and December.
  • Increasing strain over adherence to medical protocols—club structure now dictates return-to-play decisions over the manager's input, prompting Maresca to complain publicly.
  • Unclear if departure was a sacking, resignation, or mutual parting. Severance terms and next steps for Maresca unknown at broadcast time. (07:00 – 09:13, David Ornstein)

• Notable Quote:

  “The long and short of it is that Chelsea are now looking for their fourth permanent manager since the new ownership took over... There’s so much more to this story than I’ve already gone through.” (08:53 – 09:13, David Ornstein)

2. Inside the Chelsea Meltdown

• Press Conference Red Flags:

  • Simon Johnson identifies Maresca’s departure from usual caution in his Everton post-match comments as a key moment:

    “It came as a surprise to pretty much everyone, including people close to Maresca, that he said this.... You don’t say things like that, unless there’s signs you’re not happy.” (09:32 – 10:07, Simon Johnson)

• Chelsea’s Intended Patience and Collapse:

  • The club hoped to continue with a two-year review cycle but found the situation “untenable.”
  • Maresca’s refusal to fulfill post-match media duties broke internal codes of professionalism.
  • Ultimately, both parties agreed a split was best given downward momentum and internal discord.

• Fan and Club Reactions:

  • Supporters likely to vocalize displeasure at the Etihad; growing impatience towards new ownership model and lower expectation managers.
  • “Chelsea fans want success now, that’s what they’re used to. When the previous owner sacked a manager, it usually ended in a trophy.”
    (22:20, Simon Johnson)

3. The Looming Arrival of Liam Rosenior

• Candidate Profile:

  • Rosenior, Strasbourg head coach (another BlueCo club), is the clear front-runner due to close collaboration between Chelsea and Strasbourg’s football operations.
  • The appointment is expected imminently, but interim management will oversee City match.
  • “Chelsea believe experience comes through playing games, not necessarily your age, and so their path looks pretty much set in stone.”
    (13:00 – 15:08, David Ornstein)

• Notable Quote:

  “There was a feeling long before we came to this that [Rosenior] would be a Chelsea head coach one day. It appears that it’s going to come sooner rather than later.” (12:10 – 12:25, David Ornstein)

• Club Structure Unchanged:

  • Sporting directors and medical protocol “independent of head coach.”
  • Tactical style, youth-focused recruitment to continue, regardless of fan sentiment.

4. Managing Chelsea: A Poisoned Chalice?

• Critchley on Club Culture:

  • “The contradiction for the manager is between needing short-term results and fitting into a long-term executive led strategy. I think it’s an incredibly difficult club to manage.”
    (15:50 – 17:40, Mark Critchley)

  • Chelsea’s structure now minimizes the “elite-level” coach’s influence; players are seen as the true primary drivers of success.

  • “Any manager that goes into Chelsea has to try and understand and accept that when they walk through the door.”
    (17:15, Mark Critchley)

5. Preview: Manchester City vs Chelsea

• Interim Chaos:

  • U-21 coach Callum MacFarlane handles interim duties—his first senior game, against City at the Etihad.
  • Critchley: “It’s as close to a gimme as you can get for City... but this City side is just chaotic enough to keep it interesting.”
    (24:11 – 25:46, Mark Critchley)

• Fan Atmosphere:

  • Anticipate significant “noise” from the Chelsea away end, expressing dissatisfaction with the club’s trajectory and lack of ambition.
  • Simon Johnson: “One of the reasons for success after sackings in the past was the club would hire another finished article manager. With all due respect to Rosenior, he does not have the CV of past Chelsea hires.”
    (22:20 – 22:52, Simon Johnson)

• City’s Advantage:

  • Man City heavy favourites; recent Chelsea results against City have been poor, not winning at the Etihad since the 2021 Champions League final.
  • Pep Guardiola “has a bit of a history coming up against relative novices in the dugout... you'd expect City to take advantage.”
    (24:26 – 25:46, Critchley and Simon Johnson)

Other Notable Premier League Previews

Leeds vs Manchester United (29:49 – 35:41)

• Leeds’ Revival:
  • Beren Cross on Daniel Farke’s turnaround—six games unbeaten after a poor run, significant player performances highlighted.
• Man United’s Woes:
  • Critchley: United’s place is “annoying and embarrassing” for fans, with huge errors in recent fixtures despite being sixth in the table.

Liverpool, Arsenal, and More – Rapid Fire Analysis

• Liverpool’s Set-Piece Woes (37:30):
  • Set-piece coach sacked after 12th goal conceded from such scenarios.
  • Critchley: Liverpool “not the dynamic attacking force we’re used to,” Fulham could cause an upset.
• Arsenal Selection Dilemma (42:19):
  • Jesus vs Jocherez for the striker’s spot.
  • Critchley: “Arsenal stronger for having both options, but Jesus is more proven.”
• Bournemouth’s Plunge (41:05):
  • Once flying high, now winless since October and slipping toward the drop zone.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• David Ornstein (Chelsea background):

  “You can trace this back to maybe the first season of Enzo Maresca’s reign at Chelsea... whether you like it or not, I don’t think [comments] went down well with the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.”
  (04:30)

• Mark Critchley (Managerial contradiction):

  “I think there's an inherent contradiction... the manager's position at the club is about short-term justification and results, but the long-term strategy is controlled by the executive.” (16:30)

• Simon Johnson (Fan unrest):

  “One of the biggest stories will be the noise from the away end. Chelsea fans want success now, that's what they're used to.” (22:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Chelsea-Maresca Fallout Begin: 04:30 (David Ornstein deep dive)
• Press conference red flags: 09:32 (Simon Johnson on Maresca’s comments)
• Rosenior & Chelsea’s Structure: 11:44 – 15:08 (David Ornstein, succession plan)
• “Poisoned Chalice” of Chelsea job: 15:35 (Mark Critchley analysis)
• Man City vs Chelsea Preview: 20:45 – 26:00
• Leeds vs Manchester United: 29:49 – 35:41
• Liverpool’s struggles, Arsenal’s options: Starts at 37:30
• Premier League rapid-fire previews: From 44:12

Conclusion

This episode delivers a revealing look into the breakdown of Chelsea’s Maresca era, the club’s managerial merry-go-round, and the tension between ambitious project-building and the Premier League’s ruthless reality. Key Chelsea voices reveal both structural and personal catalysts for change, while sound tactical previews and sharp humor keep the discussion lively. Listeners come away understanding not just the facts, but the wider implications for Chelsea and their rivals heading into a chaotic footballing weekend.