Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as Pure Gossip

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a potential extension option.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I said many times, is solely on 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 without foundation."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Strain After Previous Comments

Maresca's most recent comments come after he referred to a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those initial words had sparked widespread talk of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an open wound that still cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has also been no resolution offered, creating the disagreement unaddressed.

The atmosphere during these press conferences has become notably awkward, raising fears it could impact what has otherwise been a promising beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a favourable European position with good performances in their final matches.

The lingering question is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.