Maresca and Chelsea management agreed to part ways on Thursday with tensions failing to ease between the two parties.
And adding fuel to the fire was a briefing from Chelsea given to certain reporters later in the day.
It was claimed Maresca lacked "mental fortitude and emotional maturity" from the Chelsea source.
The briefing's words were confirmed by Sky Sports' Dan Jones before last night's 0-0 draw between Leeds and Liverpool.
"The feeling at Chelsea is he has a lack of mental fortitude and emotional maturity," Jones said.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail says it was also claimed management felt Maresca ignored medical advice on players, who they believe he would play for too long.
His decision to skip Tuesday's post-match press conference after their draw with Bournemouth also irked directors. Maresca insists he was too ill to attend, but that claim was dismissed by club chiefs, who found the decision "to be unprofessional, disrespectful and also unfair on Willy Caballero", who had to deputise.