Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent 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, responded to the persistent speculation about his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a possible extra year available.
"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. 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 connected to Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Tensions After Previous Comments
Maresca's most recent comments follow in the wake of he described a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those initial remarks had fueled widespread speculation of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no."
The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to create unease.
While there has been no further escalation of the situation publicly, there has also been no apology offered, leaving the matter unresolved.
The atmosphere during these press conferences has become increasingly awkward, raising concerns it could impact what has up to now been a promising start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with strong results in their remaining games.
The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look settled.
