Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as Pure Gossip

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 in Manchester, responded to the persistent speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a possible extension option.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."

He went on to explain, Primarily, 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 Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

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

Tensions After Recent Remarks

Maresca's latest comments follow after he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked widespread talk of a potential disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an unhealed issue that continues to create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has also been no apology offered, creating the disagreement unaddressed.

The mood during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly strained, leading to fears it could impact what has up to now been a promising beginning to the season.

Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable European draw with strong results in their remaining games.

The lingering question is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a team that was just starting to look cohesive.