Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded recent reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent speculation about his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year available.
"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I have stated many times, is just about 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 don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Tensions After Recent Comments
Maresca's latest statement come in the wake of he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those initial words had sparked considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the post-Everton media session, no."
The manager however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club next season and urged 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 perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an unhealed issue that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the matter unresolved.
The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly strained, leading to fears it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the League Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable Champions League position with strong results in their final games.
The lingering question is whether this off-field situation might eventually affect a squad that was just starting to appear settled.