Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as Pure Gossip

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

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the ongoing speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extra year 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, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said 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, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Tensions After Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest comments come in the wake of he described a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had fueled widespread talk of a potential rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.

The mood during these media briefings has grown notably awkward, raising 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 Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better Champions League position with good results in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually affect a team that was just starting to appear settled.