Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has moved decisively to quash mounting speculation over his future, firmly dismissing links to Manchester City and committing his long-term future to the Stamford Bridge club.
Maresca Shuts Down '100 Per Cent Speculation'
The 45-year-old Italian addressed the rumours head-on during his pre-match press conference on Friday. Reports had emerged suggesting Maresca was on a shortlist of candidates to eventually succeed Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, with the Spaniard's contract set to expire in 2027.
Maresca was unequivocal in his response. "It doesn't affect me at all because I know it is 100 per cent speculation," he stated. "In this moment there is no time for these kind of things." He pointed to a similar story linking him with Juventus just a week earlier as evidence of the unreliable nature of such reports.
A Clear Commitment to Chelsea's Project
When directly asked if he would remain at Chelsea beyond the current campaign, Maresca's answer was definitive: "Absolutely, yes." He reinforced this commitment by highlighting the length of his contract, which runs until 2029.
"I have a contract here until 2029 and my focus is just on this club," Maresca affirmed. "I am very proud to be here... I'm focused on my job, last year I signed a contract until 2029, I'm happy with that and no more than that."
His comments come after he described the build-up to last weekend's 2-0 victory over Everton as his "worst 48 hours" at the club since his arrival in June 2024, a remark that had initially fuelled the speculation about his contentment.
Focus on Chelsea's Progress and Future
Shifting the narrative back to on-pitch matters, Maresca outlined the progress made under his tenure to justify his commitment. He noted the club's recent achievement of a third semi-final in eighteen months, last season's fourth-place finish to secure Champions League qualification, and the ongoing target to improve further this term.
"I don't pay attention, if we continue to talk about that it means I'm paying attention to that, but I'm not focused on that," he concluded regarding the City links, insisting the squad's attention is solely on the upcoming challenge against Newcastle United.
