Blues Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Links as Pure Gossip

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled 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 at the Etihad, 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 possible extension available.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time 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 speculation. 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 top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.

Tensions Following Previous Comments

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

Those original words had sparked widespread speculation of a potential disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager however affirmed he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

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

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has equally been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly strained, leading to concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a promising beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European position with good results in their final matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to appear settled.