It was a "three-year project" that barely lasted five months - Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca's managerial baptism of fire with Serie B outfit Ascoli abruptly ended in dismay. The former Juventus and Sevilla midfielder explained following his shock resignation in November 2017: "Things outside football have become uncontrollable, consequently there are no longer any conditions to continue." A humiliating 4-0 defeat at Parma, which had left the team rooted to the foot of the table, proved to be the final straw for obsessive No.
2 Maresca. Ascoli had initially planned to appoint the Italian as their manager but he did not hold the required coaching licence to fulfil the role and therefore worked in tandem with Fulvio Fiorin in the dugout. Yet although he was technically second in command, the club's players were under no illusions exactly who was in charge.
Former Ascoli midfielder Gianluca Carpani reveals: "Enzo was a former player so he was well respected and everyone listened to him because he had a very good career. "He really liked being in groups, so always organised lunches and dinners with both his fellow staff and players. "He had a style that I really liked, he certainly needed more time to implement this idea and to bring results.
Unfortunately the results didn't arrive and it didn't last too long." Those reflections should serve as a warning to those expecting instant success at Chelsea following Mauricio Pochettino's controversial exit. However, the standout line from Ma.