Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh reports connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation about his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a possible extra year option.
"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."
He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Tensions After Recent Comments
Maresca's most recent statement come after he described a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial words had fueled widespread talk of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."
The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, potentially available for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The mood during these press conferences has grown increasingly awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising beginning to the season.
Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European position with good performances in their remaining matches.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually disrupt a team that was beginning to appear settled.
