Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk connecting 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, addressed the persistent speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension available.

"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 went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Tensions After Recent Remarks

Maresca's latest statement follow in the wake of he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original words had sparked widespread speculation of a potential rift between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

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

The Italian however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has also been no apology forthcoming, leaving the matter unresolved.

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

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the League Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable European draw with strong results in their final games.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to affect a squad that was just starting to look settled.