Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as Pure Rumour

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded recent reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, responded to the persistent speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a potential extra year available.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "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 said 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, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions After Recent Comments

Maresca's most recent statement come in the wake of he described a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial words had fueled considerable speculation of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

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

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly available for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

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

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, creating the matter unresolved.

The atmosphere during these media briefings has become notably strained, leading to fears it could impact what has otherwise been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting situation is positive: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European draw with good performances in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look cohesive.