Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as Pure Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports linking 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 rumours about his future.
Maresca, named Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a potential extra year available.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I said many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Strain After Recent Comments
Maresca's latest statement follow after he described a previous two-day spell as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those initial remarks had fueled widespread speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about various topics. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The manager did confirm he would definitely stay at the club next season and urged the fans to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.
Perspective: Unresolved Tension
The perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an unhealed issue that still create unease.
While there has been no further escalation of the matter in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, creating the disagreement unaddressed.
The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has grown increasingly strained, raising fears it could undermine what has up to now been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a better Champions League position with strong performances in their final matches.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.