This week, Enzo Maresca will break a record. He will officially become the longest-serving head coach under Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership.

Mauricio Pochettino was at the helm for 325 days, Graham Potter for 206 days, and Thomas Tuchel for 100 days. Additionally, Frank Lampard and Bruno Saltor each had brief stints as caretakers.

As of Wednesday, Enzo Maresca has been in charge for 324 days and counting. Although Pochettino faced an official evaluation after his one season in charge, there is currently no such evaluation scheduled for Maresca’s role this summer.

Maresca has been linked with Roma, who are looking for a replacement for Claudio Ranieri. Despite the rumors, Chelsea has not been approached by the Serie A club and is not seeking any inquiries. Maresca shares a close bond with his Italian compatriot, who has been consulted for suggestions on his replacement.

But Maresca has been involved in planning for the future with Chelsea, hence why he was asked to speak with Geovany Quenda before an agreement was reached with Sporting CP for the 18-year-old. Quenda will not arrive until 2026, but it was considered important that Maresca puts his vision across to the Portuguese teenager, as he has done with all of their other signings.

This week, Enzo Maresca will break a record. He will officially become the longest-serving head coach under Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership

Roma have been linked with Maresca as they seek a replacement for Claudio Ranieri, but Chelsea have not received any approach from the Serie A club

Maresca was asked to speak with Geovany Quenda before an agreement was reached with Sporting CP for the 18-year-old

Confidential has been told Quenda is scheduled to visit the club after the conclusion of Sporting’s season. He has been a regular starter this term, helping his side win the Primeira Liga title. They face Benfica in the Taca de Portugal final this Sunday to close their campaign.

Chelsea have been impressed while following Quenda from afar, and the player himself has stepped up his English language training in the last few weeks.

Sources say Quenda’s goal is to make himself an immediate contender for game time once he turns up in 2026, and who knows, maybe Maresca will still be his manager when that comes around.

Days in charge of Chelsea under the club’s current owners:

100 – Thomas Tuchel

206 – Graham Potter

4 – Bruno Saltor (caretaker)

52 – Frank Lampard (caretaker)

325 – Mauricio Pochettino

324* – Enzo Maresca

*as of Wednesday, May 21

Caicedo’s mask mix-up

Confidential was told an amusing story about Moises Caicedo this week.

The midfielder took a whack to the face during Chelsea’s defeat at Newcastle this month, which meant he needed to wear a mask for their next Premier League clash with Manchester United the following Friday.

It was while being fitted for his protective headgear that Caicedo was asked which colour he would like. He answered ‘Chelsea blue’.

While being fitted for his protective headgear Caicedo was asked which colour he would like. He answered ‘Chelsea blue’

However, I’m told the club were then given the impression after consulting the authorities that black is the preferred colour for masks, and so Caicedo and Chelsea reluctantly followed the advice.

That didn’t stop the club’s player of the season from looking like a superhero in midfield, mind.

Chelsea to pitch project to Delap after his United talks

Confidential has been told Liam Delap remains a possible signing for Chelsea, despite Manchester United being touted as the club in pole position to land him this summer, with the Ipswich striker still seen as suited to the Blues’ model and style.

United have held in-person talks with Delap over a move – with the permission of his club – but it is understood Chelsea will also get the chance to pitch their project to the 22-year-old Englishman before he makes a final decision on his future.

Working in their favour is how Enzo Maresca already has an existing relationship with Delap, who scored a bundle of goals during their year together in Manchester City’s youth set-up.

While exceptions can be made for the odd market opportunity, Chelsea remain keen to stick to their current strategy in buying the world’s best young talent before watching them mature and develop. Delap suits that more than the other expensive options on their striker shortlist.

Liam Delap remains a possible signing for Chelsea despite Manchester United being touted as the club in pole position to land him this summer

Chelsea will also get the chance to pitch their project to the 22-year-old Englishman before he makes a final decision on his future

Rodry-no-go

Chelsea are being heavily linked with Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

However, I’m hearing you should avoid pinning your hopes on a sensational swoop for the 24-year-old winger, even if the LaLiga giants do make him available for sale this summer.

Meanwhile, this column detailed on April 30 how Chelsea sources were adamant that Enzo Fernandez is going nowhere this summer, even if Real escalate their interest. 

That stance remains the same, despite the Spaniards having him sitting on their midfield shortlist.

Chelsea are being heavily linked with Real Madrid winger Rodrygo – but don’t get your hopes up

Palace intrigue 

Ben Chilwell secured an FA Cup winners’ medal with Crystal Palace on Saturday, but one will not be making its way to Trevoh Chalobah as he never appeared in the competition while on loan. He was recalled by Chelsea in January to help cover their defensive injuries.

Ben Chilwell won the FA Cup with Crystal Palace last weekend and followed it up by scoring in their 4-2 win over Wolves on Tuesday night

Palace winning the FA Cup and thereby securing Europa League football has made it more difficult for rivals to poach their best players, including Eberechi Eze

Palace could yet return for Chalobah this summer by entering into talks over a potential permanent move, particularly as fellow centre back Marc Guehi is expected to leave Selhurst Park with only a year remaining on his contract. Chelsea are among those who have shown previous interest in Guehi.

Otherwise, Palace winning the FA Cup and thereby securing Europa League football has made it more difficult for rivals to poach their best players, including Eberechi Eze. The Eagles want to make their squad bigger, not smaller, to cope with the extra demands of European competition.

Here’s hoping you’re a Mail+ subscriber, Todd

Todd Boehly spoke at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, immediately before Elon Musk.

You’ll need to read Tesla Confidential to see what the latter said, but as for Chelsea’s co-owner, he confirmed a few tales from our previous columns.

For example, he said Cole Palmer’s contract doesn’t contain a release clause based on Champions League qualification despite rumours, as reported on May 7, and he added Andrey Santos – currently on loan at Strasbourg – will be joining up with the Chelsea squad for next month’s Club World Cup, as revealed on April 16.

There was also an amusing moment when he was asked if he would like to increase his role at Chelsea.

Boehly answered: ‘My role? I think chairman is a pretty good one. I can’t play! Maybe I’ll go as striker and see what the fans think about that.’

Nkunku up for grabs

Christopher Nkunku and Chelsea are in line to part ways in the summer.

Christopher Nkunku and Chelsea are in line to part ways in the summer

Sources say the 27-year-old Frenchman is available for sale, with the striker interested in pursuing a new personal challenge elsewhere

Sources say the 27-year-old Frenchman is available for sale, with the striker interested in pursuing a new personal challenge elsewhere.

Nkunku joined for £52million from RB Leipzig two years ago and after an injury-affected start to his Chelsea career he has failed to live up to expectations, scoring just six times in 38 Premier League appearances.

The Paris Saint-Germain academy product has found the net 14 times for the Blues this season, but only three of those have come in the league – scoring in both fixtures against bottom club Southampton and the winner at Bournemouth back in September. 

Ref selected for Conference League final

Next week’s Conference League final will be refereed by Irfan Peljto from Bosnia.

The 40-year-old oversaw Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals last month, sending off Eduardo Camavinga late on, and Rangers’ 2-0 defeat at Athletic Club in the Europa League last eight.

He is the only Bosnian to take charge of a match in Europe’s top club competition.

Irfan Peljto is the only Bosnian to take charge of a Champions League match

He oversaw Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals last month

Club World Cup prep getting underway

Chelsea will have analysts watching on May 31 when MLS side LAFC and Mexican outfit Club America face one another to see who will take the final space in the Club World Cup.

The winner of that play-off will join the Blues in Group D, where they will face Enzo Maresca’s side a little more than two weeks later on June 16 in Atlanta.

This predicament occurred after Chelsea’s original opponents on that date, Club Leon, were kicked out of the competition due to multi-club ownership conflicts.

The Blues are taking the Club World Cup seriously, with a massive £97m prize pot available if they can go on to lift the trophy.