Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to become the manager of Manchester United after verbal agreement with the owners
According to The Sun, Manchester United may have inadvertently played a part in Enzo Maresca’s surprising departure from Chelsea on New Year’s Day.
The Blues parted ways with the Italian manager after just 19 months in charge, and it appears that behind-the-scenes conversations at Old Trafford could have contributed to his downfall.
Speculation linking Maresca to Manchester City was partly fueled by discussions circulating within the Manchester United camp.
Talk of him potentially succeeding Pep Guardiola at the Etihad became one of several factors that ultimately led to Chelsea pulling the trigger on his dismissal.
Whether Manchester United intentionally set out to destabilize their London rivals through these conversations remains unclear.
Both clubs are locked in a fierce battle for a top-four finish and the coveted Champions League spot that comes with it. Fourth-placed Chelsea currently hold the advantage over the Red Devils, but only thanks to a superior goal difference.
In the wake of Maresca’s exit, Chelsea have turned to a temporary solution, promoting under-21s manager Calum McFarlane to lead the team in tomorrow’s high-stakes encounter with Manchester City.
Manchester United face Leeds United earlier on Sunday and could leapfrog into fourth place if they secure victory at Elland Road while Chelsea slip up against City.
Amorim under growing scrutiny
Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim isn’t facing imminent dismissal, but a concerning run of just three wins in their last ten league outings has reignited questions about his tactical philosophy within the club’s hierarchy.
The Portuguese coach has remained steadfast in his commitment to a three-man defensive system, much to the frustration of senior club officials who have grown increasingly uneasy about the team’s struggles under his inflexible approach.
The relationship between Amorim and Manchester United’s director of football Jason Wilcox has become noticeably strained, and the 40-year-old manager needs to start producing more convincing results to silence his critics.
While he still enjoys the club’s backing for now, time is running out. If he can’t get his squad firing on all cylinders in short order, the consequences could be severe.
