Enzo Maresca categorically insists he has no intention of leaving Chelsea for Manchester Metropolis this summer time within the occasion of Pep Guardiola’s exit, although the murmurs of disharmony behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge are unlikely to vanish any time quickly.
Maresca was quizzed on being linked with Metropolis lower than per week after he invited scrutiny on his relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy, having stated ‘many individuals’ induced his ‘worst 48 hours’ with an absence of ‘help’ within the build-up to their beating of Everton.
The Italian dismissed the Metropolis hyperlinks as ‘100 per cent hypothesis’ as he previewed their subsequent Premier League conflict with Newcastle and pointed to his contract which runs till 2029, with Chelsea additionally holding the choice of a further 12 months.
Nonetheless, Maresca appeared to answer claims made final weekend by membership sources who described his post-Everton outburst as an ‘emotional response to an emotional win’.
Talking on Friday, Maresca contradicted these claims by saying: ‘What I stated, it was not an emotional response. It was not an emotional response. I stated what I stated. Full cease.’
On whether or not he may promise supporters that he would nonetheless be at Chelsea subsequent season, Maresca stated: ‘Completely, sure. I’ve a contract till 2029, and that is hypothesis, 100 per cent.
Discuss of Enzo Maresca’s discontent at Chelsea will rumble on – however he has promised he will likely be on the membership subsequent season amid hyperlinks to Manchester Metropolis
‘I haven’t got something so as to add, as a result of once more, I do not concentrate. If we proceed to speak about that, that implies that I am taking note of that, however I am not centered on that.
‘I am centered on the Newcastle sport. I am centered on my job. Once more, I signed a contract final 12 months till 2029. I am proud of that, and not more than that.
‘It would not have an effect on me in any respect as a result of I do know that’s 100 per cent hypothesis. One week in the past in Italy, it was the identical with Juventus. I do not concentrate as a result of I do know that isn’t true.’
Maresca assisted Guardiola throughout Metropolis’s treble-winning season of 2022-23, lately switched to be represented by the ‘tremendous agent’ Jorge Mendes, and has repeatedly refused to elucidate his post-Everton remarks which invited hypothesis on his scenario.
Requested whether or not he had spoken to Chelsea’s sporting administrators, Maresca stated: ‘Sure, we’re in the identical constructing. We discuss various things. However concerning the Everton press convention? No.’
Thriller nonetheless surrounds why Maresca stated what he did. Some have speculated he needs a higher say in transfers, however when that was put to Chelsea’s head coach yesterday, he stated: ‘No, no, completely not. No, no, no. I’m proud of the squad. The rationale why I signed with this membership, in the event you bear in mind I’ve stated many occasions, is as a result of I feel the squad is superb.’
Others have prompt he doesn’t like his selections being questioned by his superiors, with Maresca having common debriefs with sporting administrators Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. The Italian additionally batted away that suggestion, saying: ‘Now we have seven, eight teaching employees that analyse minute after minutes of each sport however for certain you may take recommendations from anybody.’
Requested if he would pen a brand new deal if supplied one, Maresca stated: ‘If the membership supplied me a brand new contract? It is a query for the membership, if I deserve a brand new contract.’
