Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as Pure Rumour

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

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the ongoing rumours surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extra year option.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things."

He further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated 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 ignore it because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions After Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow after he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked considerable speculation of a potential rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would definitely stay at the club next season and urged the fans 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 available for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

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

While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.

The mood during the manager's press conferences has grown increasingly awkward, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a promising beginning to the season.

Chelsea's sporting situation is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a better European position with good results in their final matches.

The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually disrupt a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.