Chelsea Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Links as Pure Gossip

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the ongoing speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a potential extension option.

"It doesn't affect 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 further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated many times, is just about 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 ignore it because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Tensions After Previous Comments

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

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

When asked if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would definitely remain at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that continues to create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, creating the matter unaddressed.

The atmosphere during these media briefings has grown increasingly strained, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a decent beginning to the season.

Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the league, have reached the League Cup last four, and can secure a better Champions League position with good performances in their remaining matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually affect a team that was just starting to appear settled.