PEP WON'T BE PANICKING YET

IF Pep Guardiola thought he had problems he should spare a thought for his rivals visiting the Etihad tonight.

- BY JEREMY CROSS

In normal circumstances Guardiola would be offering a warm embrace to Enzo Maresca before kickoff.

But he won't be - because Maresca got the bum's rush from Chelsea before getting the chance to take on Guardiola's men.

Calum McFarlane will take charge until Chelsea work out who to appoint next.

Finding a replacement for Maresca (above right, with Guardiola) will not be a problem because club owners, the BlueCo consortium, have become expert in hiring and firing managers since seizing control at Stamford Bridge.

Todd Boehly and the rest of the suits take the line of throwing enough mud at a wall in the hope some sticks.

Previous owner Roman Abramovich was the same.