'I used to really dislike Chelsea - but I was wrong and could now replace Enzo Maresca'

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Como head coach Cesc Fabregas is among the names being linked with the vacant managerial job at Stamford Bridge, although the former midfielder's relationship with Chelsea hasn't always been straightforward.

The London club parted ways with Enzo Maresca this week, less than 48 hours after their 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in the Premier League . Although sudden, it seems the decision is the consequence of a build up of tension between the Italian and Chelsea's hierarchy.

A number of names have been linked with the role, most notably Strasbourg's Liam Rosenior , owing to the ownership connection between the two clubs. That said, Como's Fabregas has also been tipped to take charge, thanks to his rapid rise with the Serie A club, as well as his pre-existing relations with Chelsea.

Fabregas is a product of Barcelona 's youth academy, although he went on to join Arsenal at a very young age. He eventually progressed through the ranks in north London and went on to make over 300 appearances across all competitions in the early 2000s.

He eventually returned to Barcelona , where he spent three years before making his way back to the Premier League, this time to represent Chelsea. He had a very successful stint at Stamford Bridge, winning five trophies in the four full seasons he was there.

Although revered as a club legend, Fabregas wasn't always the biggest fan of Chelsea. Having spent so much of his early career with rivals Arsenal, he has openly admitted his views on the club have drastically changed since his move in 2014.

He told CBS Sports Kickin’ It last month: "Yes, I disliked Chelsea very much. I always said it and all the fans they know.

"After I said it was one of the best decisions I took in my career because the way I was treated there, how many trophies we won, five trophies in four and a half years. The fans were outstanding with me. Outstanding. I couldn’t be more grateful. We had a great feeling connection straight away."

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Since taking charge of Como in 2024, Fabregas has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young coaches in the game. He has also expressed on numerous occasions, even before he retired as a player, that he has a desire to manage in the Premier League one day.

In an interview with Sky Sports back in 2022, while he was still playing at Como, Fabregas said: "When I become a coach, as I have said, the Premier League has been my league, it is where I played my best football, my best years, where people respect me so much.

"I feel really loved in England and, in the future, I would love [to coach there], why not? I'd love to [be a Premier League manager], 100 per cent. If I can look at a target in some years to come, then definitely, this is in my head."

He reiterated that stance a couple of years later in 2024, shortly before he was appointed as Como head coach. "You never know how the future will go, but I want to be a main coach," he said in an interview with the Evening Standard at the time.

“I am doing my own way at the moment. 100 per cent my ambition one day is to coach a top club in the Premier League, the Champions League .

“But you need to respect the right steps. I feel I am ready to be a first-team coach already so I don’t really want to go into these types of little coaching on the side or being an assistant.

"I have very clear things in my mind that I just want to be a main coach, a first-team coach, and that’s why I will do my own way until I am ready to jump onto a big train. But for now, there is a long way to go.

"I am just getting started. I feel privileged for the opportunity Como has given me and I am very happy here."

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