Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as Pure Rumour

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation about his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension 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 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 connected to Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."

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

Strain Following Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments come in the wake of he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original remarks had sparked widespread talk of a potential rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged the fans to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the matter unresolved.

The mood during the manager's media briefings has grown increasingly strained, leading to concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable European draw with good results in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look settled.