Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as Pure Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh talk connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent speculation about his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year available.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm very proud to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions Following Previous Comments
Maresca's most recent comments come after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those initial remarks had fueled considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."
The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly available for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still create unease.
While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The atmosphere during these media briefings has grown notably strained, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable Champions League position with strong results in their remaining games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually affect a team that was beginning to appear settled.
