Chelsea Manager Maresca Rejects Man City Links as Pure Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours about his next move.
Maresca, named Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year option.
"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 have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Strain Following Recent Remarks
Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those original words had fueled considerable talk of a potential rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."
The Italian however affirmed he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, potentially in contention 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 open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, creating the matter unresolved.
The mood during the manager's press conferences has grown notably awkward, raising concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can secure a favourable European draw with strong performances in their final games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might eventually disrupt a squad that was beginning to appear cohesive.
