Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Gossip
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the persistent rumours surrounding his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year option.
"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 further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Strain After Previous Comments
Maresca's most recent comments follow in the wake of he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those original remarks had fueled considerable talk of a potential rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."
The manager however affirmed 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 forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an open wound that still create unease.
While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, creating the matter unresolved.
The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown increasingly strained, leading to fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better Champions League position with good performances in their remaining matches.
The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might eventually affect a team that was beginning to look cohesive.
