After Chelsea’s emphatic 4-1 victory over Real Betis to lift the Europa Conference League, manager Enzo Maresca basked in triumph—claiming he “never doubted” his team throughout the rollercoaster season. But not everyone bought into that narrative…
👊 Frank Leboeuf, a legendary former Chelsea defender and outspoken pundit, has delivered a scathing rebuke on ESPN FC:
> “His first sentence is a lie… Even the players had doubts.”
Leboeuf’s comments came as a direct response to Maresca’s post-match confidence, pointing to Chelsea’s mid-season collapse where they lost 6 out of 11 games and crashed out of the title race. He insists:
> “Chelsea were in the title race in December. One defeat and they crumbled. Of course he had doubts!”
⚖️ Still, credit where it’s due:
Leboeuf did applaud the late-season rebound, praising Maresca’s shift back to a more vertical playing style and the youthful squad’s resilience:
> “Well done to the players, well done to Maresca… They reacted well.”
🔍 The Real Takeaway:
Maresca’s debut season ends on a high—with a trophy and Champions League football secured. But Leboeuf’s remarks expose the gap between public image and internal realities at Cobham. The fans may be celebrating, but the truth behind the scenes is far from a fairytale.
👀 The pressure is now squarely on Maresca heading into next season—with expectations higher than ever, and a legend already questi
oning his transparency.
