Chelsea
Six realistic managerial options for Chelsea after Enzo Maresca’s exit
Chelsea have started 2026 by parting ways with Enzo Maresca and face another managerial hunt. Today.
Chelsea opened 2026 by parting company with Enzo Maresca, leaving the club to hunt for its fifth permanent manager since BlueCo took control in 2022. Thomas Tuchel was replaced soon after the takeover and both Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino subsequently failed to satisfy those running the club. Here are six candidates who match the circumstances the owners now face.
Oliver Glasner
Glasner has drawn attention for his work at Crystal Palace and is in the final six months of his contract. He is not expected to extend and could leave at season’s end, or be recruited now if Palace agree a pay-off. A small fee is likely given the time left on his deal, though Palace may negotiate hard. Glasner favors a 3-4-2-1 and uses wide defenders the club’s previous coach rejected, but Chelsea’s large squad means a formation change would be feasible.
Liam Rosenior
Seen in some reports as a contingency plan, Rosenior runs Strasbourg, a sister club. Appointed in July last year, he was previously at Hull City and briefly acted as Derby County caretaker. He was dismissed after missing the Championship play-offs in 2023–24, the same season Maresca won the title with Leicester City. Rosenior took Strasbourg to seventh and refused earlier Premier League approaches before signing a new contract, so a move to Chelsea would be a clear step up.
Cesc Fàbregas
Now at Como, Fàbregas has developed coaching credentials but remains relatively inexperienced. He had 57 matches as a coach at the start of 2026; Maresca had 67 when he was appointed. Fàbregas is contracted to Como until 2028 and also holds shares in the club, complicating any approach.
Andoni Iraola
Iraola transformed Bournemouth after arriving in 2023, lifting them from relegation candidates into the top half. Results have dipped this year, but he is in the final six months of his contract and is expected to attract offers.
Roberto De Zerbi
Reports suggested De Zerbi would have taken the Chelsea job in 2024. His work with Brighton is admired inside the club and his spell at Marseille has impressed. Tactically he appeals, though his abrasive personality and a public dispute with Tony Bloom over a youth-focused transfer approach at Brighton count against him.
Xavi
With more than 200 managerial games, nearly half at Al Sadd, Xavi won the 2022–23 La Liga title with Barcelona and left that job in summer 2024. He is available immediately and is respected for his record with young players; Lamine Yamal made his breakthrough under him. There is a sense he still has much to learn, which could suit Chelsea’s appetite for a project.
Chelsea
Chelsea supporters announce two protests targeting BlueCo ahead of FA Cup final
Fans plan two protests before the FA Cup final and a later match, demanding change from BlueCo. more
A Chelsea supporters’ group has confirmed two planned protests aimed at ownership group BlueCo, with demonstrations set before the FA Cup final against Manchester City on May 16 and a second protest a few days later against Tottenham Hotspur. NotAProjectCFC said a banner questioning the performances of co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will be displayed during the gatherings.
“While we recognize the importance of both matches, we feel these steps are absolutely necessary in an attempt to send a public message that we have no faith in the current ownership and the direction the club is heading,” a statement read .
The protests follow a period of growing fan frustration as BlueCo, which arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2022, pursued an ambitious plan from 2023 to make Chelsea one of Europe’s best clubs. Led by co-owner Behdad Eghbali, the ownership assembled a decision-making team including Winstanley, Stewart and recruitment chiefs Joe Shields and Sam Jewell. The stated strategy focused on heavy investment in young players, developing them into stars, winning trophies and generating profits by selling fringe players.
A total of $2 billion (£1.5 billion) has been spent to build Chelsea’s squad and the club recorded the largest pre-tax loss in history at $350 million (£262 million). Limited on-field success and underwhelming returns through player trading are cited in that financial picture.
Recent results have done little to calm supporters. Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest and a season in which Chelsea face a battle to finish in the top half of the Premier League table have intensified criticism. Enzo Maresca’s time in charge, which included victory in the Club World Cup during the summer, briefly muted complaints, but his departure in January after a clash with those above him marked a turning point. The subsequent hiring and swift firing of Liam Rosenior did not appease fans.
Media briefs following Rosenior’s exit promised a period of “self-reflection,” but supporters remain skeptical. “Given the unprecedented expenditure on the men’s first team since Blueco acquired the club, this is absolutely unacceptable,” the statement continued.
“The issues at the club go far beyond any manager. Until meaningful change is brought about to the environment in which they operate, the identity of these managers will be futile. We also have no faith that the club is entering any period of ‘self-reflection’ as stated. We are interested in actions, not words.”
Chelsea
Chelsea 1-3 Nottingham Forest: Defensive Errors and VAR Decide at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea lost 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. It leaves them ninth after six defeats…
Chelsea conceded at Stamford Bridge and fell to a 3–1 defeat by Nottingham Forest on Monday, a result that underlined a season slipping out of their control. The Blues ended a nine-hour wait for a Premier League goal with João Pedro’s acrobatic strike in stoppage time, but that consolation did little to alter the match’s narrative.
Nottingham Forest struck twice in quick succession. Igor Jesus converted from the spot after a VAR-recommended review following Malo Gusto’s shirt pull on Taiwo Awoniyi, and Awoniyi added a second at the start of the second half following a dangerous delivery from Dilane Bakwa and good work from Morgan Gibbs-White. Cole Palmer had a first-half penalty saved by Matz Sels, and João Pedro briefly had a goal ruled out for offside before scoring his late overhead kick.
The defeat drops Chelsea to ninth and extends a run of six straight defeats for the first time since 1993. Nottingham Forest are described in the report as practically safe. The assessment for the Blues was blunt: poor defending, ill-discipline and costly moments under VAR scrutiny.
Individual ratings reflected a mixed performance. Enzo Fernández (7.7) and João Pedro (7.7) were the highest-rated performers, while Marc Cucurella received 7.5. Malo Gusto’s shirt pull and overall defending featured in the match’s decisive moments; the full list of ratings in the report ranged from Robert Sánchez (5.8) to Cucurella and included several midrange scores across the back line and midfield.
Substitutions included Liam Delap (45’) and Levi Colwill (46’), with Filip Jörgensen coming on at 66’. Several players were unused on the bench, including Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, Dário Essugo and Reece James. The report concluded with statistics that showed Chelsea dominating possession (68%) and attempts (21 shots) but falling short on the day; expected goals were 1.93 for Chelsea and 2.07 for Forest.
With domestic cup progress now a vital objective, the result leaves Chelsea facing a critical period in which form must improve quickly.
Chelsea
Neto and Garnacho Omitted as Chelsea Turn to Jesse Derry for Nottingham Forest Trip
Neto and Garnacho miss Monday’s clash with Nottingham Forest, Jesse Derry handed first senior start.
Chelsea face Nottingham Forest on Monday with a depleted wide line after injuries and a suspension reduced their senior options. Estêvão is recently injured and Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended, leaving the Blues light on experienced wingers.
Interim boss Calum McFarlane did not disclose any specific problems for Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho during his prematch press conference, so their absence from the matchday squad came as a surprise. According to Nizaar Kinsella, Neto and Garnacho are both battling knocks. While neither is expected to need long on the sidelines, they were not deemed fit enough to play in Monday’s big game.
That situation has forced McFarlane into selection adjustments. Cole Palmer gets the nod on the right wing, a tactical choice that is not particularly unusual, while 18-year-old Jesse Derry is handed his first senior start for the club.
Derry’s promotion will be welcomed by supporters who have been keen to see the teenager given more minutes, particularly as Chelsea’s senior alternatives have struggled to make a consistent impact. Gittens’s injury struggles have left him unable to win over his new supporters, while Garnacho’s impressive work rate has been countered by an underwhelming end product that has sparked suggestions he could leave the club this summer.
Like Garnacho, Derry joined Chelsea last summer, signing from the Crystal Palace academy. The 18-year-old has impressed at youth level, scoring six goals in 17 PL2 appearances and adding five goals in eight UEFA Youth League matches.
McFarlane will hope the blend of Cole Palmer’s experience on the wing and Derry’s youth spark can offset the temporary losses. Neto and Garnacho remain part of the squad long term, but Chelsea will be without both for this fixture as they manage short-term knocks.
