Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton predecessor Roberto De Zerbi, but has refused to compliment the German head coach.
Chelsea head coach Maresca claimed he has “no problem” with Hürzeler, but simply replied “thank you very much” and ended his pre-match press conference when asked if he thinks the 31-year-old is a top coach.
The direct question came after Maresca had answered questions on Hürzeler by insisting that De Zerbi, whom he played with in AC Milan’s youth team, is a top coach.
‘No problem’ between pair
In total, Maresca passed up four separate opportunities to offer an opinion on Hürzeler, who he will meet again on Friday night when Chelsea travel to Brighton for the second time in a week.
Asked what he had made of Hürzeler this season, having already faced him twice in the Premier League and FA Cup, Maresca replied: “I prefer not to say anything about their manager.”
When it was put to Maresca that he sounded unimpressed with Hürzeler, he said: “It’s not that I’m not impressed. First of all, I think the previous Brighton manager is a top manager, not because he’s a friend of mine. But I think he’s a top manager. And that’s it.”
Asked if there had been a problem between the pair in Brighton’s FA Cup victory over Chelsea last week, Maresca said: “No, no problem at all.”
The subject of Hürzeler was brought up again, with Maresca adding: “I just said that De Zerbi is a fantastic manager and a friend of mine. I will say no more than that.”
When he was finally asked whether or not he thinks Hürzeler is a top coach, Maresca said “thank you very much” and got out of his seat to signal the end of the pre-match press conference.
Manager’s touchline row
Friends of Maresca claimed his reticence to praise Hürzeler was out of loyalty to his old team-mate and friend De Zerbi, but it left onlookers wondering whether or not there was a deeper issue.
Hürzeler was involved in a touchline row with former Southampton manager Russell Martin earlier this season and was involved in an incident with Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. He earned a touchline suspension in December after accumulating three yellow cards.
