đź”— Share this article Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Rumour Enzo Maresca was once an coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded recent reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay. The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his future. Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible 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 no time for these kind of things." He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I said 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 without foundation." Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime fixture. Tensions Following Recent Remarks Maresca's latest comments follow after he described a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea. Those initial remarks had sparked widespread speculation of a potential rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers. When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no." The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to "continue to support the team". In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month. Perspective: An 'Open Wound' The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to create unease. While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved. The mood during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has up to now been a promising beginning to the season. Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better European position with good performances in their remaining games. The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually affect a squad that was just starting to look settled.
Enzo Maresca was once an coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded recent reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay. The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his future. Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible 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 no time for these kind of things." He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I said 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 without foundation." Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime fixture. Tensions Following Recent Remarks Maresca's latest comments follow after he described a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea. Those initial remarks had sparked widespread speculation of a potential rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers. When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no." The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to "continue to support the team". In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month. Perspective: An 'Open Wound' The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to create unease. While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved. The mood during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has up to now been a promising beginning to the season. Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better European position with good performances in their remaining games. The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually affect a squad that was just starting to look settled.