Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has spoken candidly about his reaction to the departure of manager Enzo Maresca, admitting to feelings of surprise and personal sadness.
Neto, a key figure in the squad, said he was initially taken aback by the news. “When I heard the news, in the beginning, I was a little bit surprised,” Neto stated. He pointed to the manager’s strong record as the reason for his reaction. “The manager did very good for us. He did an unbelievable season last year, he was doing a good season this year.”
Beyond the professional success, Neto highlighted the significant personal impact Maresca had on his development. His departure, therefore, carries a deeper weight for the Portuguese international.
“I’d be a little bit sad,” Neto confessed, “because it was the manager that helped me a lot.” He elaborated on their working relationship, adding, “I learned a lot with him. On personal terms, he was unbelievable as well.”
Neto’s comments highlight the strong bond formed between the manager and the playing staff during his tenure. As the club prepares for a new chapter, Neto’s words serve as a clear acknowledgment of Maresca’s positive influence both on and off the pitch.
Enzo Maresca Stats for Chelsea:
92 games
55 wins
16 draws
21 defeats
2 Trophies
After 12 Premier League games this season, Maresca had Chelsea second in the table, six points behind Arsenal.
But Mikel Merino cancelling out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener in a 1-1 draw kickstarted a worrying trend of Maresca’s Chelsea letting winning positions dwindle.
They have claimed just five points from winning positions since Arsenal’s equaliser, with only three Premier League teams claiming fewer points after holding an advantage in games.
Brighton and Bournemouth (three points) and West Ham (two) are the only teams to have let leads flounder more frequently than Chelsea since Nov. 30.
Maresca has left Chelsea after a run of just two wins in their last nine games in all competitions.
They have won just one of the past seven Premier League games. It wasn’t the first time Maresca had overseen such a poor run.
They also won only one of seven league matches between Dec. 2024 and Jan. 2025 but he was given more time at the helm.
But now, Maresca has become the first manager in Premier League history to leave a job on New Year’s Day.
He leaves Chelsea 15 points behind league leaders Arsenal.
