Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links Ahead of Newcastle Trip

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has firmly rejected reports linking him with a potential return to Manchester City, calling the speculation unfounded as he prepares his side for a Premier League trip to Newcastle.

Reports earlier in the week suggested City had identified Maresca as a possible successor should Pep Guardiola leave at the end of the season, but the Italian moved quickly to shut down the narrative and reaffirm his commitment to Chelsea.

Maresca, who previously worked at the Etihad as Under-23 coach and later as Guardiola’s assistant, insisted the rumours have had no impact on his focus, stressing that his attention remains solely on Chelsea’s immediate task.

The timing of the reports added fuel to the story after Maresca recently declined to clarify comments that were interpreted as frustration with support from Chelsea’s hierarchy. That hesitation intensified outside noise around his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca, however, was unequivocal when addressing the issue. He confirmed he is under contract until 2029 and stated he has no interest in engaging with speculation, pointing out that similar links had surfaced recently with Juventus before quickly fading.

The backdrop to the story is Guardiola’s own long-standing situation at City. The Spaniard will reach a decade in charge next summer and remains contracted until the end of the 2026–27 season, with no formal indication of an early departure.

Guardiola has repeatedly played down questions about his future, describing the recurring speculation as a seasonal ritual rather than a reflection of genuine discussions. He reaffirmed that no talks are taking place regarding his exit and said he remains fully invested in City’s ongoing development.

Attention now turns back to the pitch. City host West Ham United on Saturday knowing a win could lift them to the top of the table, at least temporarily, while Chelsea travel north to face Newcastle with Maresca keen to keep his squad insulated from external distractions.

City’s preparations have been complicated by injuries to Rodri, John Stones, and Jérémy Doku, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri are absent on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Guardiola acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in his squad’s readiness.

For Maresca, the message was simple and deliberate. The future can wait. With a long-term contract in place and a crucial run of fixtures ahead, his priority remains delivering results at Chelsea and silencing the noise through performances rather than words.