Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as Pure Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded recent reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year available.

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

He further elaborated, "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 rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Tensions After Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he referred to a recent two-day spell as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.

Those initial words had fueled considerable talk of a possible rift between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we talk about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no."

The manager however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support 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 later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

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

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

The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has grown notably awkward, leading to concerns it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable European draw with good results in their remaining matches.

The lingering question is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a team that was beginning to appear cohesive.