Former Chelsea midfielder, Mikel John Obi has reportedly claimed that the club made a “ridiculous mistake” by letting go of Enzo Maresca and feels that by employing Liam Rosenior, they have gone “five steps backwards.”
Maresca departed Chelsea on New Year’s Day following a breakdown in his relationship with the Stamford Bridge board.
In his first season as manager, the Italian led the Blues to Champions League qualification and won the Conference League and Club World Cup.
However, he was dismissed following a record of only one victory in his last seven Premier League games.
See Also: Real Madrid Players United By One Emotion Ahead Of Benfica Clash
Rosenior promptly took Maresca’s place, and Chelsea’s performance significantly improved under the former Strasbourg manager.
However, Rosenior has come under fire after losing to Burnley and Leeds at home in recent weeks, and Mikel has now stated that his former employers should never have allowed Maresca leave in the first place.
What Mikel said About Rosenior’s Appointment
“We had Enzo Maresca. I’ve said it, I think it was a massive mistake to sack him. I mean, it’s ridiculous,” Mikel said on the Obi One podcast as reported by the Evening Standard.
“Yeah, a manager that won us the Club World Cup, won us the Conference League, we had some sort of identity the way we played. We took a step forward, and we’ve gone five steps backwards.
“Liam has come in, and he’s won games, but there is absolutely something that is missing. Something is not quite right.”
Following an easy beginning to Rosenior’s tenure as manager, Chelsea now face a challenging schedule as they attempt to guarantee a spot in the top four.
The Blues’ next two league games are away trips to Arsenal and Aston Villa, followed by home games against Newcastle and Manchester City, and a trip to Everton.
COMMENTS