đŸ”— Share this article Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as Pure Rumour Enzo Maresca previously worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation". The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation about his next move. Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible extension 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 such distractions." He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said 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 don't pay attention because I know that is not true." Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off. Tensions Following Previous Remarks Maresca's latest statement come after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea. Those initial words had sparked widespread talk of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy. When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no." The Italian did confirm he would definitely stay at the club next season and called on supporters to keep backing the team". In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month. Analysis: Unresolved Tension The perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an open wound that still cause concern. While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unaddressed. The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has become notably awkward, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign. Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League position with strong results in their final matches. The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to appear settled.
Enzo Maresca previously worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation". The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation about his next move. Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible extension 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 such distractions." He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said 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 don't pay attention because I know that is not true." Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off. Tensions Following Previous Remarks Maresca's latest statement come after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea. Those initial words had sparked widespread talk of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy. When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no." The Italian did confirm he would definitely stay at the club next season and called on supporters to keep backing the team". In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month. Analysis: Unresolved Tension The perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an open wound that still cause concern. While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unaddressed. The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has become notably awkward, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign. Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League position with strong results in their final matches. The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to appear settled.