Kenya, 19 December 2025 - Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has firmly played down speculation linking him with a potential move to Manchester City, insisting reports suggesting he could replace Pep Guardiola are unfounded.
Speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming fixture against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, Maresca described the rumours as “100% speculation,” stressing that his full focus remains on his current role at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian coach, who previously worked under Guardiola as an assistant at City, has been mentioned in recent reports as a possible long-term Guardiola successor should the City manager eventually depart.
“I am very happy here,” Maresca said. “I’m completely focused on Chelsea and the project we are building. Everything else is just speculation and nothing more.”
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Maresca’s comments come amid growing discussion about Guardiola’s future, with Manchester City believed to be planning ahead given the Spaniard’s contract situation. That planning has inevitably led to several names being mentioned, including Maresca, whose tactical philosophy is closely aligned with Guardiola’s positional and possession-based style.
However, Chelsea sources maintain that the club remains committed to Maresca, who was appointed with a long-term vision in mind. Despite mixed results at times, the Chelsea hierarchy is understood to be supportive of his approach, particularly his emphasis on structure, youth development, and playing identity.
Maresca also reiterated that he has not been contacted by Manchester City regarding any role, nor has there been any indication of formal interest. “There has been no conversation, no contact,” he added, seeking to close down the speculation entirely.
For now, Chelsea fans can take reassurance from their manager’s clear stance. While links to elite clubs are often inevitable in modern football, Maresca’s message was unambiguous: his attention remains firmly on Chelsea and delivering progress on the pitch, not on unconfirmed future moves.
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