Maresca keeps frosty distance from Hurzeler ahead of Chelsea-Brighton clash

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca offered no praise for Brighton counterpart Fabian Hurzeler during a Friday pre-match briefing, declining four times to comment on his fellow Italian and instead praising Roberto De Zerbi, Hurzeler’s predecessor. The exchange came ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge, a reunion of the two tacticians that has felt unusually tense given their recent history. Brighton’s 3-0 victory at the Amex on February 14 marked the last time the two met in a technical area, a defeat that has lingered in the Chelsea camp as they prepare for the latest chapter of the rivalry.

Maresca’s reticence toward Hurzeler is widely interpreted through the lens of loyalty to De Zerbi, who remains a respected figure in Maresca’s circle even as De Zerbi has moved on, most recently to manage Marseille in France. The two Italians—Maresca, born in Pontecagnano Faiano in southern Italy, and De Zerbi, from Brescia in the north—met years ago in AC Milan’s youth ranks, forging a friendship that has endured while their coaching careers diverged. That bond helps explain why Maresca’s comments at Cobham, and again at his subsequent press conference, carried a cautious and almost formal undertone when the topic turned to Hurzeler.

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The February frostiness at Chelsea’s Cobham base was described to Daily Mail Sport as being rooted in respect for De Zerbi’s work and in anticipation of the change Hurzeler has represented at Brighton since succeeding De Zerbi in 2022. Maresca and De Zerbi’s shared Italian lineage is cited by those close to Maresca as a factor in his guarded posture toward Hurzeler, whom some describe as a fiery, endlessly engaged coach on the touchline. Maresca’s team, though, has faced Hurzeler in competitive settings before; the two have experienced a number of sharp exchanges across league and cup matches, including incidents that have drawn the attention of match officials.

The backstory between Maresca and Hurzeler extends beyond a single game. De Zerbi’s leadership at Brighton left him with a reputation for urgency and clear-eyed analysis, traits Maresca has tried to emulate. When De Zerbi first took the Brighton job in 2022, he phoned Maresca for guidance on entering English football, a gesture that underscores the depth of their relationship. Maresca, in seeking to bring in players for Chelsea, has also reached out to De Zerbi for an honest appraisal of targets, including striker Joao Pedro, whom Maresca had considered signing from Brighton. Those familiar with the dynamic say loyalty to De Zerbi is a factor in Maresca’s measured replies about Hurzeler, even as he has repeatedly praised Hurzeler’s competence in other contexts.

The friction Hurzeler generates is not confined to Maresca’s camp. A widely noted recent example involved Pep Guardiola declining to shake Hurzeler’s hand after Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton. While Maresca stresses there is no personal grievance with Hurzeler, the wider coaching ecosystem—where Hurzeler’s intensity has earned both admiration and occasional censure—adds layers to the Chelsea-Brighton encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Hurzeler’s own profile as a coach also feeds into the narrative. He is known for a high-tempo, emotionally charged touchline presence, a trait that has drawn attention from referees and rivals alike. At 32, he has asserted himself as a ruthlessly competitive figure who expects discipline from his players and, on occasion, from his opponents. Those who have faced him in the big moments describe a driver who wears his heart on his sleeve, with a history of disputes that have spilled into post-match analysis. A former opponent who faced Hurzeler in his early days as a player described him as intense and outspoken—a temperament that has translated into his coaching approach.

That intensity has also produced debate about whether Hurzeler’s passion is a strength or a distraction. Critics argue that the fervor can unsettle opponents and even draw bookings, while supporters say it signals authenticity and a willingness to push for every available advantage. The nuance of Hurzeler’s approach was on display again in a recent FA Cup meeting when Brighton briefly led, and his sideline presence was as evident as his team’s efforts on the field. Brighton would later be pegged back in the league meeting, but the row over discipline and the calling for bookings captured the ongoing tension between Maresca and Hurzeler’s methods.

For Chelsea, the challenge is to channel focus on the field rather than the provocation from the technical area. The February 2025 fixture underlined what is at stake: while Hurzeler’s team pushed for a response, Brighton registered another strong showing, a reminder that Chelsea cannot afford to underestimate a manager who has built a reputation for turning up the heat in every contest. The social-media echo from Brighton’s official channels—“Fabian Hurzeler. Top manager.”—exemplified the mutual interest in reading the rivalry through a lens that blends respect with competitive edge.

As the two teams prepare to square off at Stamford Bridge, the broader context remains clear: Maresca’s Chelsea are looking to tighten up after a difficult spell, while Hurzeler’s Brighton aim to translate their robust, sometimes volatile approach into results. Brighton have managed only one win in five league matches heading into the weekend, underscoring the urgency for both managers to translate talk into performance. The coming game is more than a routine fixture; it is a test of temperament, loyalty, and tactical evolution between two Italian coaches who have shaped a distinctive narrative around one of English football’s most watched fixtures, even as their personal relationship continues to influence the surface-level drama on the touchline.