Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 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 no time for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I said many times, is solely on 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 without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions After Recent Comments
Maresca's latest statement come after he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those initial words had sparked considerable talk of a potential rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."
The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to "continue to support the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.
Perspective: Unresolved Tension
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has also been no apology forthcoming, leaving the matter unresolved.
The mood during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly strained, raising concerns it could impact what has up to now been a promising beginning to the season.
Chelsea's sporting position is positive: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better Champions League draw with good results in their final games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually affect a team that was just starting to look cohesive.