Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Rumour

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh 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 speculation surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 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 completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."

He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I said 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 linked with a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Tensions After Previous Comments

Maresca's most recent statement come in the wake of he referred to a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original words had sparked widespread speculation of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The manager did confirm he would definitely stay at the club next season and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an open wound that still create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, creating the matter unaddressed.

The mood during these press conferences has become notably awkward, leading to fears it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a better Champions League position with strong results in their remaining games.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to affect a squad that was just starting to look settled.