Maresca’s public drama at Chelsea? Carragher says it’s a trap he might not escape
15 December 2025
Context
Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool star turned pundit, argues that Enzo Maresca has created a self-inflicted problem with his recent public comments about Chelsea's ownership and leadership. Carragher suggests Maresca is engaging in a power play with the club's hierarchy and that this approach could jeopardize his future at Chelsea.
Impact on Chelsea
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher describes Maresca's stance as a "power game" with Chelsea's directors, noting that such public statements rarely end well for a manager.
Although Carragher says he is a big admirer of Maresca, he warns that talking about ownership in the open can backfire and create instability within the club.
He adds that Maresca's public remarks appear to be aimed at the club's ownership and sporting directors, and that this approach may not be sustainable for Chelsea's manager in the long term.
Carragher also references recent results and frustrations at Chelsea, including the feeling that the club did not reinforce the squad after injuries, which has added to the tension behind the scenes. He cautions that the majority of the talking should happen behind closed doors.
He praises Maresca's tactical acumen but questions where the Italian coach could find a club bigger than Chelsea if the current relationship with the board deteriorates.
Behind the scenes, Sky Sports' reporting indicates a quiet but growing tension between Maresca and the club's sporting directors, suggesting that the manager might be left with little room to maneuver if support continues to wane.
As the EFL Cup quarterfinal against Cardiff City approaches, the risk of a high-profile exit grows, underscoring how fragile managerial tenure can be in modern football.
And now, two sharp lines to close with a wink of humor:
Punchline 1: If public power plays were a tactic, Maresca would be top of the charts—Chelsea would finally have a trophy shelf, just not the right shelf yet.
Punchline 2: Maresca’s future might depend on a manual written in Italian—clearly some instructions didn’t survive the translation to English headlines.