Chelsea's head coach dismisses Manchester City speculation and expects he is staying at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca has moved to minimize recent speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City, asserting he anticipates to continue as Chelsea's manager next season.
Contract and Commitment
Despite recent comments that cast doubt on his relationship with the club's hierarchy, Maresca pointed to his deal running until 2029 and reiterated his focus is entirely on his role at Chelsea. He described the City links as "nothing but talk."
“It doesn’t affect me at all because I know that is entirely speculative,” said Maresca. “All my attention, as I've stated repeatedly, is solely on this club and I’m very proud to be here.”
Source of Speculation
The intrigue around the coach increased after he revealed experiencing his “worst 48 hours” at Chelsea before a win over Everton, citing a feeling of insufficient backing. Some observers suggest these ambiguous statements could be linked to aspirations of moving to Manchester City, where he once worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant.
When questioned about the source of the rumors, Maresca replied, “I think it's key to know why this news was there, but it’s not my job, I don’t care at all.”
Future Plans
Amid the speculation, Chelsea's travelling supporters were heard singing Maresca's name following a Carabao Cup win. When directly asked if he planned to be at the club for the next campaign, his response was emphatic.
“Absolutely, yes,” he affirmed. “I have a contract until 2029, and this is 100% speculation. I'm just focused on the Newcastle game and on my job.”
The coach pointed to the club's accomplishments under his tenure, such as qualifying for a third semi-final in a year and a half and achieving top-four qualification last season. “Now the target is to try to improve,” Maresca concluded.
