“Enzo Maresca is not the right man for this job” “Chelsea made a big mistake not to appoint him” – Makelele reveals manager Chelsea needs to appoint
Chelsea legend Claude Makelele has questioned the club’s decision to pass on Luis Enrique in the summer of 2023, suggesting the Blues made a mistake by not appointing the former Barcelona boss when they had the chance.
Enrique, who is now on the brink of Champions League glory with Paris Saint-Germain, was strongly linked with the Chelsea job following the dismissal of Graham Potter. Reports from Spain at the time claimed the Spaniard was eager to take over immediately, even offering to lead the team into their Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.
Despite holding both virtual and in-person meetings with the Chelsea board, Enrique was ultimately overlooked. The Blues instead appointed club legend Frank Lampard as interim manager before hiring Mauricio Pochettino on a permanent basis.
Speaking to Football London while representing bet365, Makelele said:
“I think you need to ask the president of Chelsea, ‘Why did you not take him?’”
The former midfield enforcer reflected on what Enrique could have brought to Stamford Bridge, particularly his possession-based approach that made him so successful at Barcelona and now PSG.
“He had a lot of people criticise him about the way he played, but he was focused on his ideas and now everybody is giving him praise – this is football. Sometimes the manager needs time, but he only needed a short amount of time.”
Makelele continued:
“Now, he plays possession, but maybe in the Premier League, where it is all box-to-box, you cannot always have possession. Sometimes, you’d have to play in a different way.”
Still, Makelele is full of admiration for Enrique, whom he once faced as a player:
“I know the player, I know the manager, because I played against him. I know exactly how he feels football. It’s important for Paris Saint-Germain to have this kind of manager.”
Enrique’s PSG are preparing to face Inter Milan in the Champions League final, with the Spaniard looking to lift the trophy for a second time. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s decision to appoint Lampard as interim boss instead of Enrique led to a dismal end to the 2022/23 campaign, with just one win in 11 matches and an early exit from Europe.
Spanish reports claimed Enrique was “disappointed” with Chelsea’s decision at the time—a sentiment that now seems justified given his current success.