The reality is that when you receive offers from two former Champions League-winning sides – Chelsea and Porto – your profile in a competitive market becomes clear. And it is clear too why Maresca has been chosen to make improvements at a potentially top club like Chelsea.
That is probably being a bit unfair to Pochettino, because he has left the club in a considerably better, far more stable place than he found it 12 months ago.
Pochettino, though, is the type of coach who has to believe he is in the right place, where he feels respected as he co-exists in an atmosphere of happiness and harmony – and he felt none of those things at Stamford Bridge.
Ironically, Maresca is also that kind of manager, someone who needs to feel empathy and the understanding of his paymasters.
Bearing that in mind, his main worry about accepting the job will be taking on board Pochettino’s reasons for leaving, namely the excessive interference and influence exerted by the owners, which many believe hampers the work done by the coaches.
He could have called Pochettino to ask for his input.
But Maresca has been told the right things, sent the right messages and been reassured that at Chelsea he will be supported and surrounded by enough elite people that can work alongside him, to guarantee the club can achieve their first major aim of a top-four finish.
RankDriverNumberTeamFastest LapLaps11Lando NorrisNOR44McLaren1:33.9031:33.9036622Charles LeclercLEC1616Ferrari1:34.0391:34.0397733Lance StrollSTR1818Aston Marti
Everton boss Dyche is the only current Premier League manager with a direct link to Clough, having been an apprentice and young professional on the books at For
Nottingham Forest are hoping to one day turn the City Ground into a 50,000-seat stadium, says Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis.The expansion would go beyond Fores
Emi Martinez, Aston Villa, keeper, £5m - home to WolvesClean sheets have been so hard to predict this season. Gameweek four saw six of them from the 10 games,