Enzo Maresca confirmed that he has not had any contact with club officials since making a cryptic remark that prompted questions about his relationship with those above him at Chelsea. The manager declined to expand on the comment and made clear the supporters were not the group he had in mind, telling reporters: “I’m not annoyed with all of you.”

Many observers inferred the remarks were aimed at the club hierarchy, with speculation focusing on co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and co-owner Behdad Eghbali. Multiple reports cited in recent coverage have suggested Maresca has grown tired of having his methods questioned by influential figures inside the organisation.

Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal, a 3–1 win over League One side Cardiff City, did little to change the manager’s demeanour. Following the victory, when asked if he was happy he replied simply: “No.” He was also asked whether anyone from the ownership group or the sporting directors had spoken to him since his earlier comments. “No,” he revealed.

He outlined his focus after the Everton defeat, saying: “As I said yesterday, the day after Everton, I started to prepare for Cardiff, focus on Cardiff. Now I just said, on the bus I will watch Newcastle games [to prepare for Saturday’s fixture] and I didn’t speak with one of them.” The manager’s assertion of silence from the club’s upper-management is notable given the regular involvement of those figures at matches and in the dressing room before, after and sometimes during fixtures.

One positive moment for Maresca on the night was the reception from travelling supporters when his name was sung late on. He acknowledged the gesture, calling it: “It was a great moment.

“I appreciate it and I am always thankful. I said many times the support has always been there, knowing that any supporters in the world are not happy when you don’t win. In some moments when we haven’t won games they have not been happy, but it is normal. Overall the fans have always been there.

“You cannot imagine how happy I am for the players because it is another semifinal for them, the fans, for everyone.”

Enzo Maresca’s unprompted comments after Chelsea’s win over Everton have focused attention on the club’s internal arrangements and the relationship between the manager and those above him. What began as a routine press conference turned into a public airing of frustration that club officials now describe as an “emotional reaction.”

On the back of the Everton victory Maresca said, “Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn’t support us.” He later added, “I love the fans and we are very happy with the fans,” and in a follow-up said, “I said after the game that I love the Chelsea supporters, they deserve the best, and again, I don’t have nothing to add.”

The manager also pushed back when asked if his remarks were aimed at the club hierarchy, telling reporters, “I was quite clear.” Observers have noted Maresca’s demeanour suggested his grievances were not with supporters or the media, leaving the focus on those in the sporting structure above him.

Chelsea’s decision-making is widely understood to be driven by owners and sporting directors in the BlueCo era, and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart hold significant responsibility. Reporting has suggested Maresca’s frustrations relate to a need to defend tactics and player rotation, and a sense he may not be fully trusted.

Rotation policy, designed to accelerate the development of young players, has coincided with absences for Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo and Levi Colwill and exposed weaknesses during a run of poor results, including the 3–1 defeat to Leeds United. That sequence has prompted scrutiny of substitutions and in-game management from both supporters and, reportedly, internally.

Maresca insisted his commitment remains whole, pledging his “100%” to the role and describing himself as happy at Chelsea. The club will nonetheless carry out the planned end-of-season review of his position in the summer, a process used previously after Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure. The manager’s October decision to align with Jorge Mendes has added another element to the situation.

Ultimately Maresca’s public remarks underline tensions between a manager who is visibly passionate and a club structure that operates by committee. As he himself has shown before, he does not shy from expressing his convictions: “You can feel the fans when they’re not happy,” he said in January 2024. “Probably some people, they take some things for granted. But it’s not like this. Twenty-six wins out of 34, it’s something unbelievable. I arrive in this club to play with this idea. The moment there is some doubt about the idea, the day after, I will leave. It’s so clear. No doubts.”

The quarterfinals of the Carabao Cup present a clear pathway to Wembley and a chance for silverware for the leading contenders. Three heavyweights stand out as favourites, while Premier League challengers and a League One side aim to upset the balance.

Cardiff City have a reputation for overperforming in this competition. The Welsh side, who were in the Championship when they reached the 2011–12 final via a favourable run of fixtures, pushed Liverpool to penalties in the showpiece before suffering heartbreak. Now fighting to escape League One, the Carabao Cup has not been a distraction; Swindon Town, Cheltenham, Burnley and Wrexham have all been discarded en route to the last eight. Their reward is a visit from Chelsea.

Chelsea have made life difficult for themselves in cup ties away to Lincoln City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Enzo Maresca should name a fairly strong team for the trip to Wales. If the Italian selects even a handful of regular starters, they should conquer Cardiff with little fuss. The Bluebirds will be keen to see a much-changed Chelsea teamsheet on Tuesday, offering hope of a surprise result, but a convincing defeat is the most likely outcome. Prediction: Cardiff 1–3 Chelsea.

Manchester City arrive brimming with confidence and represent a stern test for Brentford. Pep Guardiola’s men have claimed victory in five successive matches and, after their 2–1 win over Real Madrid, they breezed past Crystal Palace on the road last weekend. City have won the trophy four times under Guardiola and dominated the competition between 2018 and 2021, though they have not progressed beyond the last eight since. Brentford possess attacking options in Igor Thiago, Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara, but an alarming away record in the league — seven defeats from eight — undermines their hopes. Prediction: Man City 3–0 Brentford.

Newcastle, who lifted the trophy last season, face Fulham. Eddie Howe’s side beat Fulham 2–1 at St James’ Park this term with Bruno Guimarães’s last-gasp strike in October. Fulham, inspired by Harry Wilson at times, can threaten, but Newcastle should prevail at home. Prediction: Newcastle 2–1 Fulham.

Arsenal host Crystal Palace a week later because Palace are in the Europa Conference League. Palace have enjoyed two days out at Wembley in the past seven months, conquering Man City in the FA Cup final and beating Liverpool in the Community Shield. Arsenal beat Palace 1–0 on home soil earlier this season and, despite Palace’s capacity to defy the odds, the Gunners should reach the semis. Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 Crystal Palace.