Blues Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Links as Pure Gossip
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation about his future.
Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension option.
"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."
He further elaborated, 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 very proud to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.
Tensions Following Previous Remarks
Maresca's most recent comments come after he referred to a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those original remarks had sparked widespread speculation of a potential rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about various topics. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The manager however affirmed he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The perceived 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 matter in the open, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unresolved.
The atmosphere during these press conferences has become increasingly strained, leading to concerns it could impact what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign.
Chelsea's sporting situation is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with strong performances in their remaining games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually affect a squad that was beginning to look cohesive.
