Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca used his appearance at the Trento Sports Festival to reflect on key influences in his career, especially the bond he shares with Manuel Pellegrini.
Speaking via Gianluca Di Marzio, Maresca described the former Real Betis coach as a โprofessional dad,โ crediting him with shaping much of his coaching outlook.
โI spent four years with Manuel, he is a reference for me,โ Maresca said. โAs a human being, he is a great person. When I have to make big decisions, we are in contact.โ
On the ex-Manchester City manager, the Italian said: โBefore the final, we spoke and said the same thing: โIf I donโt win it, Iโm happy because you will,โ but we both wanted to win. Heโs someone I care about a lot. Iโm very grateful to the people who gave me the opportunity to be here today. I love him.โ
His admiration for Pellegrini came amid celebrations of Chelseaโs double success in continental and global competitions. Under Marescaโs guidance, Chelsea captured the Europa Conference League and followed it with the Club World Cup triumph โ reaffirming his credentials on the international stage.
Beyond personal gratitude, Marescaโs comments suggest his loyalty and footballing philosophy are rooted in long-standing relationships. His reference to Pellegrini as more than a mentor โ someone he still leans on for counsel โ paints a picture of continuity in coaching lineage, even as he charts new chapters in England.
