Yahoo News Enzo Maresca ready to 'consider options' if Leicester City fail to gear up for Premier League
Enzo Maresca “will consider his options” if Leicester City don’t make structural changes to prepare for the Premier League.
Journalist Guillem Balague, a close friend of Maresca, has said clubs in Spain are keen on the City manager and could provide him with a new home if his requests aren’t met. Balague says Maresca is hoping for a refresh of the “decision-making offices” at the King Power Stadium so they can become a stable Premier League club and not yo-yo between the divisions.
Maresca himself again expressed his irritation over financial and transfer matters at the club. He said on Monday, after City clinched the Championship title, that he wanted to sit down with the hierarchy over things he “didn’t like”, namely the club’s lack of business in the January transfer window, when they were unable to bring in Italian midfielder Stefano Sensi, and over their compliance with financial rules, with City expected to start the new campaign with a points deduction.
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At Friday’s press conference, Maresca reiterated his desire for sit-down talks. He appears to be upset with the lack of communication on the big topics, pointing out that he wasn't warned of the financial issues when he first signed for the club, having previously mentioned it took until the opening of the January window for City to tell him they would not be able to sign players without sales first.
He said on Friday: “I already mentioned in January, in the transfer window, when we had some problems, that it was not the moment, as it was the moment to be focused on our target, which was to be promoted. Then at the end of the season, we’re going to sit and speak about it.
“The same happened about the financial fair play. Nobody from the club mentioned to me when I signed that it could be a problem. I think it’s not the right thing to do. I think it will be a moment to sit and to understand why they didn’t mention it to me. There are more things.
“In football clubs, in normal situations, you need the right moment to clarify. There are things we need to clarify, but then for the rest we are fantastic. We worked every day to be there at the end of the season so we are all happy. For sure, we’re going to find solutions for everything.”
In recent weeks, Maresca’s former club, Sevilla, have been credited with interest in him as they seek a new manager this summer, when Quique Sanchez Flores’s contract runs out. Maresca played 138 games for Sevilla between 2005 and 2009, winning two UEFA Cups and a Copa Del Rey with them.
Balague suggested there are more clubs who would offer Maresca a route out of City if he didn’t get what he wanted. However, he does believe Maresca’s priority is to stay at the King Power Stadium.
Speaking on the BBC’s Football News Show, Balague said: “More or less the structure that Leicester City have behind the scenes is similar to the one that brought them down. Something has to change. Something has to give.
“Enzo Maresca identifies what is required to be in the elite and he will propose that and see if the club respond to that. They also need to explain why Maresca didn’t know about the financial problems when he first came in and has had to deal with it.
“What would you do if you realised that to go to the next level you require certain things? Maybe four, five, six new people in the technical department, in the decision-making offices. If that doesn’t happen, I’ve got the impression that Enzo Maresca will consider his options.
“And I can tell you the options are big. Some European Cup winners would like to have him, some top Spanish clubs would like to have him, and in Italy they’re keeping an eye on him.
“His idea would be to stay in England. His number one priority is to stay with Leicester City, but you don’t want to go into the Premier League and be a team that comes down again. He wants a Leicester City that can be stable.
“The target next season will be clear and should be clear to everyone, fans included. If they start with minus six, survival, that’s all there is. And he’s happy with that, as long as the foundations are strong to grow from there.”
