Maresca refutes Chelsea discontent claims, vows to stay amid City links

Enzo Maresca said he has no intention of leaving Chelsea next season, dismissing Manchester City links as 100 percent speculation as he faced questions over his recent remarks after Chelsea’s win over Everton. The Chelsea manager, who led City assistant Pep Guardiola during their treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, reiterated that his contract runs until 2029 and that the club hold an option for an additional year. He also pushed back on claims that his post-Everton comments reflected an emotional meltdown, insisting: “What I said, it was not an emotional reaction. It was not an emotional reaction. I said what I said. Full stop.”

Ma r esca previewed Chelsea’s upcoming league clash with Newcastle United, saying he would not be drawn into endless speculation about his future and that his focus remained squarely on his job. “Absolutely, yes. I have a contract until 2029, and this is speculation, 100 per cent. Talk of Enzo Maresca's discontent at Chelsea will rumble on - but he has promised he will be at the club next season amid links to Manchester City,” he said, before adding that his attention was on the present and the next fixture rather than gossip. “I don't have anything to add, because again, I don't pay attention. If we continue to talk about that, that means that I'm paying attention to that, but I'm not focused on that. I'm focused on the Newcastle game. I'm focused on my job. Again, I signed a contract last year until 2029. I'm happy with that, and no more than that. It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100 per cent speculation. One week ago in Italy, it was the same with Juventus. I don't pay attention because I know that is not true.”

The club’s portrayal of Maresca’s Everton press conference as an emotional reaction has added to the intrigue around his situation, though Maresca himself has challenged the framing. He says the public discourse around his remarks is detached from reality and insisted he would not be swayed by the surrounding noise. “I don't have anything to add, because again, I don't pay attention. If we continue to talk about that, that means that I'm paying attention to that, but I'm not focused on that. I'm focused on the Newcastle game. I'm focused on my job. Again, I signed a contract last year until 2029. I'm happy with that, and no more than that. It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100 per cent speculation. One week ago in Italy, it was the same with Juventus. I don't pay attention because I know that is not true.”

The Maresca saga has featured competing narratives. Chelsea sources suggested his post-Everton remarks reflected an emotional moment following an emotional win, a characterization Maresca rejected. He noted the distinction between his public statements and the realities of his day-to-day work, and he repeated his pledge to stay at Chelsea for the foreseeable future. “Yes, we are in the same building. We speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference? No,” he said when asked whether he had discussed the matter with Chelsea’s sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. He was quick to emphasize the collaborative nature of Chelsea’s coaching operation, noting there are “seven, eight coaching staff that analyse minute after minutes of every game,” and adding that suggestions can come from anyone in the room.

The broader context remains murky, though Maresca’s relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy has repeatedly come under scrutiny since he took the job. Some observers have speculated he might want more influence over transfers, a claim the head coach appeared to dismiss outright. “No, no, absolutely not. No, no, no. I’m happy with the squad. The reason why I signed with this club, if you remember I have said many times, is because I think the squad is very good,” Maresca asserted, underscoring his satisfaction with the squad he inherited and helped shape.

He also addressed questions about his new representation, confirming that he now works with super agent Jorge Mendes, a detail that has fueled broader talk about his ambitions and networks within European football. Despite the change in representation and the attention it has drawn, Maresca reiterated that his focus remains on the present and the players he is charged with guiding. He was careful to frame any potential contract extension as a matter for the club to decide, saying: “If the club offered me a new contract? This is a question for the club, if I deserve a new contract.”

The timing of the debates is notable. Maresca’s ascent at Chelsea has coincided with a broader cycle of upheaval at the club, including the transfer policy and the status of the sporting directors who have been integral to Chelsea’s decision-making. The Italian’s earlier link to Manchester City amid Guardiola’s rumored future departures has kept the issue in the spotlight, even as Maresca maintains a firm stance on his commitment to Chelsea.

There is also historical context to consider. Maresca’s path into Stamford Bridge comes after a stint in English football that included working with Guardiola at City, a relationship that has drawn attention as he contends with expectations at a club with one of the game’s most scrutinized squads. The move to Mendes’s representation adds another layer to the narrative, though Maresca insists his focus remains on performance, not speculation.

As the season unfolds, Maresca’s public posture will be tested by the results he delivers on the field and by the willingness of Chelsea’s board to publicly back his long-term plans. For now, he has reiterated his commitment to the club through 2029 and beyond, insisting that the ongoing chatter will not derail his mission to build a competitive Chelsea side capable of contending across the Premier League and in European competition. In a sport where the line between ambition and job security can shift quickly, Maresca’s ongoing insistence on focus and continuity stands as a clear statement of intent from a manager who has experienced both the highs of a major trophy-winning staff and the scrutiny that accompanies one of football’s biggest clubs.