Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension option.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for such distractions."
He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said 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 don't pay attention because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions After Recent Comments
Maresca's most recent comments follow after he described a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those original words had fueled considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club'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 Italian did confirm he would definitely remain at the club next season and urged the fans to keep backing the team".
In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Analysis: 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 situation publicly, there has also been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the matter unaddressed.
The mood during these press conferences has grown increasingly strained, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a better European draw with good performances in their remaining games.
The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look settled.
