Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Gossip
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours about his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year available.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."
He further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, 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 a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Tensions Following Previous Remarks
Maresca's most recent comments come after he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial words had sparked considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the coach 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 speak about various topics. But about the post-Everton media session, no."
The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no further escalation of the situation in the open, there has equally been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The mood during these media briefings has grown notably awkward, leading to concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European draw with strong results in their remaining games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to affect a squad that was beginning to look settled.
