Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Gossip
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded recent talk connecting him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation about his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 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 no time for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, "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 Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions After Recent Comments
Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial remarks had sparked considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.
When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."
The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and urged supporters to keep backing the team".
In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: Unresolved Tension
The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that still create unease.
While there has been no further escalation of the situation in the open, there has equally been no apology offered, creating the disagreement unresolved.
The mood during these media briefings has become notably strained, raising fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can secure a favourable Champions League draw with good results in their final games.
The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually disrupt a team that was just starting to appear settled.
