Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, responded to the persistent rumours surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a 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 stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for such distractions."

He further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions After Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest statement come after he described a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial words had sparked considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager did confirm he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to keep backing the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, creating the matter unaddressed.

The mood during these media briefings has grown notably awkward, raising concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting position is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a better European draw with strong performances in their final matches.

The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to look cohesive.