MARESCA & GARNACHO react post-Cardiff | Cardiff City 1-3 Chelsea | Carabao Cup 2025/26

Enzo Maresca and goalscorer Alejandro Garnacho react after Chelsea's 3-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Cardiff City...

The last time Chelsea beat Newcastle at St. James Park was in 2021.

We need to be very physical and win our duels with this Newcastle midfield on Saturday to stand a chance

‼️ Caicedo will miss the first leg of the Carabao Cup's semi-finals after his yellow card against Cardiff on Tuesday night.

Two ways to see this:

1) Maresca linking up with Mendes because he’s genuinely unhappy and open to succeeding Pep at City. It fits: he’s worked there before, knows the setup (and Haaland), and wouldn’t have to deal with BlueCo’s control, which clearly undervalues him.

2) A smart, Mendes-driven chess move.
A quiet message to Chelsea: back me in January and ease the pressure, or risk the embarrassment of losing me to City.

The timing feels deliberate ahead of the January window. He’s tired of overachieving without proper backing or appreciation.

People bashing Maresca thought big clubs wouldn't love to have him. Kompany got hired after relegating Burnley and you think our guy who dog walked Flick and Enrique isn't being looked at.

It’s probably a mix of both, but I lean toward the second. He's contracted till 2030 but you can't keep a coach that doesn't want to stay. Let’s see.

Neto has equalled his best career goals tally already this season (6).

Garnacho already has 4 goals in 876 minutes in all competitions this season. He scored 11 in 3569 minutes for United last season.

Both wingers could break their personal goal-scoring records by the end of the season. Neto could break his against Newcastle. 😉

Maresca has played an absolute blinder lately :

1) Let the fans know through his comments that he wasn’t getting the support through bad results behind the scenes which in turn galvanised everyone because as much as some may not fully rate Maresca, everyone will chose stability with Enzo over more unneeded cycle reboot, especially under an ownership who preach for patience and project and building. Arteta at Arsenal reference been briefed since 2022.

2) Let people and the club know, probably through Jorge Mendes, that he has interest elsewhere from big clubs and it’s up to Chelsea if they want to adapt some of their approaches or he can go elsewhere where he is fully backed and supported.

3) Promised that he will be here next season and that he’s committed, putting a stop to any potential PR spin from the club that comes out in the summer suggesting the opposite.

“Everything I do is because I want the best for everyone. The fans, the players, everyone”

What's your opinion on this?

[Via Pys]

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