Chelsea Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded 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 at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation surrounding his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extension option.
"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."
He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. 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 lunchtime fixture.
Tensions After Previous Comments
Maresca's most recent statement come after he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those original words had fueled widespread speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."
The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and called on the fans to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca indicated that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: Unresolved Tension
The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has also been no apology forthcoming, creating the disagreement unaddressed.
The atmosphere during these press conferences has become increasingly awkward, raising fears it could impact what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European position with good performances in their remaining games.
The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look settled.
