Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Gossip
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent rumours surrounding his next move.
Maresca, named Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extra year option.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is no time for such distractions."
He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. 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 speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. 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 fixture.
Tensions Following Recent Comments
Maresca's latest statement follow after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial words had fueled widespread talk of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When asked if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."
The manager however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that still create unease.
While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has also been no apology offered, creating the disagreement unresolved.
The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown notably awkward, raising fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European position with strong results in their final matches.
The lingering question is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to disrupt a team that was beginning to appear cohesive.