Chelsea star breaks rank with Enzo Maresca message after sacking | Football | Sport

Cucurella was the first player to show his backing for the outgoing manager, with the Chelsea hierarchy now seeking their fourth permanent boss.

In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Spanish full-back expressed his appreciation to the Italian, offering his best wishes for the future amid growing speculation linking him with Manchester City.

He posted: “Thank you for everything, mister, and to your staff. For the work and the trust from day one, and for the memories! Wishing you all the best in what comes next. Good luck, boss!”

Maresca’s explosive remarks following their victory over Everton have exposed the strained relationship behind the scenes at Chelsea. His defiant comments came after a 2-0 win against Everton, ending a four-match winless streak that was unexpected following their resounding 3-0 victory over Champions League contenders Barcelona.

He stated: “Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn’t support us.”

Since then, Chelsea have secured their spot in the next round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff, but they’ve failed to win in their last three matches.

During this period, they had to recover from a two-goal deficit to secure a draw at Newcastle United, before squandering a one-goal lead in a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.

The mood worsened on Tuesday when Stamford Bridge fans chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing” in response to Maresca’s decision to substitute Cole Palmer.

They were met with boos following the 2-2 draw with the Cherries, a match in which Chelsea fell behind, took the lead, and then saw all four goals scored in the first half.