TA: There are two reasons for Maresca's dismissal; Chelsea's league goal is not to compete for the title but to fight for the top five.

In this Premier League round, Chelsea drew 2-2 at home with Bournemouth, having secured just one victory in their last seven league games. Soon after, Chelsea confirmed the departure of Maresca, the coach who led them to two trophies last season (Europa Conference League and Club World Cup).

TA wrote that there are two main reasons behind Maresca's dismissal:

• First: poor results! With only one win in seven matches, Chelsea has transformed from a Premier League title contender into a team fighting for a top-five (Champions League qualification) spot. Three weeks ago, Maresca was still named November’s best coach and led the Blues to a 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona, earning praise from fans and media who considered Chelsea a strong competitor in both the Premier League and Champions League this season. However, in the last nine games across all competitions, the team managed only two wins. This slump in performance is the main reason for Maresca’s dismissal.
• Second: poor relations with the management! Maresca had a rift with Chelsea’s top executives since mid-December last year. After Chelsea’s win against Everton, Maresca openly criticized the club’s leadership, calling it the worst 48 hours of his coaching career. According to media reports, Maresca has been in contact with Manchester City as a potential successor to Guardiola.

Although Maresca coached Chelsea for only one and a half seasons, he remains the longest-serving manager since the new owner Burley and Clear Lake Capital took over Stamford Bridge. He led the team in 92 matches across all competitions, winning two trophies in the post-Abramovich era: the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup, and secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season to return Chelsea to the Champions League.

According to TA, Chelsea’s management aims for a top-five finish to secure a Champions League spot. The current Blues operate like a business, evident from their transfer strategy focusing on young players with long-term contracts. Chelsea’s executives plan to hire a coach who fits the existing system rather than rebuilding the squad from scratch.

In my personal view, a title-contending coach will not come to Chelsea because the head coach has no say in transfers. Chelsea’s player purchases are purely business-driven, resembling a lottery-style approach focused on profit rather than competing for Premier League or Champions League titles. The Blues currently lack the strength to challenge for either trophy.