Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the ongoing rumours about his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a potential extension available.
"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 such distractions."
He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, 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 linked with 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 this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Strain After Previous Comments
Maresca's most recent statement follow after he described a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial words had fueled widespread speculation of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The Italian did confirm he would definitely remain at the club next season and called on supporters to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca indicated that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become notably awkward, leading to concerns it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's sporting situation is positive: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with strong performances in their remaining matches.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to appear cohesive.
