Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Gossip
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, responded to the ongoing speculation about his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 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 stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."
He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated 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 linked with a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions Following Recent Remarks
Maresca's most recent statement follow after he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those original words had fueled considerable speculation of a potential 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 Everton press conference, no."
The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged the fans to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly available 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 unhealed issue that still cause concern.
While there has been no further escalation of the matter in the open, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unresolved.
The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become notably strained, leading to fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising beginning to the season.
Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a favourable Champions League draw with strong performances in their final matches.
The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to look cohesive.
