Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh reports 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 ongoing rumours surrounding his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year available.
"It doesn't affect 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, "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 very proud to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.
Strain After Recent Remarks
Maresca's latest comments come after he described a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those original remarks had fueled considerable speculation of a potential rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The manager however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly available for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the matter unaddressed.
The atmosphere during these media briefings has grown increasingly strained, leading to concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.
Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European draw with good results in their final matches.
The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to affect a team that was just starting to appear cohesive.
