Keith Wyness drops verdict on Man City agreeing terms with Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca’s previous spell as Man City’s assistant manager could help the Chelsea boss replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, amid reports that Maresca could replace Guardiola as Man City manager when the Spaniard departs.
Guardiola’s contract at Man City expires in 2027, and his future beyond that remains in doubt, with the 54-year-old likely to leave.
Maresca’s relationship with the Chelsea ownership has come in for scrutiny lately, but the former Leicester boss has won two trophies at Stamford Bridge.
Man City ‘have had a chance to observe’ Enzo Maresca
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Man City‘s knowledge of Maresca is why the Chelsea boss may be shortlisted for any future managerial vacancy.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness though thinks recent reports are due to Maresca’s uncertain future at Chelsea.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t know where those comments, you know, have come from about him going to Man City, but then when you look into it, he has had two stints at Man City before with the under 21s and also as an assistant. So they know him.
“They’ve had a chance to observe him. He understands the people at City. He knows the set up there, and obviously they like him. So it’s not smoke without fire.
“However, I do think it’s more a case of positioning and jockeying about the politics in Chelsea right now and placing some stories in the media rather than actually any decisions being made because we don’t know that Pep’s definitely going to leave.”
Chelsea make Maresca sack decision
Chelsea have no plans to sack Maresca despite his dig aimed at the board after the Blues’ 2-0 win over Everton earlier this month.
Maresca called it the “worst 48 hours” prior to the game, and the 45-year-old has failed to clear up the comments in subsequent press conferences.
Under Maresca this season, Chelsea are into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and currently sit fourth in the Premier League table.