ENZO MARESCA DISMISSES CITY RUMORS: "100% SPECULATION," PLEDGES LOYALTY TO CHELSEA UNTIL 2029
Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca shuts down Man City rumours, confirms commitment until 2029, and provides a key Liam Delap injury update.
Chelsea's coach, Enzo Maresca, brushed off rumours about him possibly replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, calling them 100 per cent speculation.
Reports came out Thursday saying that City had put Maresca on their list of possible replacements if Guardiola leaves after this season.
Maresca used to coach City's Under-23 team and was also Guardiola's assistant before he left for Leicester in 2023.
This comes just days after Maresca didn't explain comments that seemed to criticise the lack of backing from Chelsea's bosses, which made people think things weren't going well at the club.
When asked about the City rumours before Saturday's game against Newcastle, Maresca said, It doesn't bother me. It's all just guessing!
I don't have time for that. I'm under contract here until 2029. I'm only thinking about this club. I'm really proud to be here.
It's just rumours. Last week, it was the same with Juventus. I don't care because I know it's not true.
The media put out this fake news due to various incentives.
It's important to understand that the incentives for this news were there. It's their job, but I don't care at all. The players are thinking about Newcastle.
When asked if he could promise he'd be at Chelsea next season, he said, Yes, for sure. I have a contract until 2029.
It's all guessing, 100 per cent. I have nothing else to say. I don't pay any attention to it. If we keep talking about it, then I'm paying attention. I'm just focused on Newcastle and my job.
After Chelsea's win against Everton last weekend, Maresca said that the previous two days had been the worst since he'd been at the club and that he and the players hadn't gotten the support he expected during a tough run of games.
He didn't say more about it when he spoke to the media on Monday.
People have criticised Chelsea's rotation this season, which has sometimes made the team look disorganised.
Losses to Leeds and Atalanta, and a boring tie with Bournemouth, seemed to back up those criticisms. But it's believed that the club's leaders privately support using the rotation players. It gives younger, less experienced players a chance to participate in the team.
Maresca has been given a squad that seems a little light at times, especially in difficult games like the one away at Leeds, where the team needed more leadership.
About his relationship with the management, he said, We're in the same building, so we talk about different things. But what about the Everton press conference? Nothing. He said that everything was absolutely fine between him and the people in charge.
Striker Liam Delap is coming back sooner than expected from the shoulder injury. He got it at an away game two weeks ago. The £30 million signing could be back for the match against Aston Villa on December 27.
XAVI OPENLY DECLARES INTEREST IN CHELSEA JOB DURING PERMANENT MANAGER SEARCH
With Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola on the shortlist, explore why Xavi Hernández wants to take over the Chelsea hotseat next.
Xavi has openly said he’d love to manage Chelsea, and now the Blues are hunting for someone to replace Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior got the sack last month after a rough patch just three months into his huge contract that was supposed to last six and a half years. Calum McFarlane is filling in as interim head coach until season’s end, but Chelsea are actively looking for a permanent boss for the 2026/27 campaign.
They're considering some big names. Xabi Alonso’s been mentioned; he’s been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January. Andoni Iraola, who’s about to leave Bournemouth, is also on the shortlist.
Cesc Fabregas has been linked after his strong run at Como, and Frank Lampard’s in the mix too, fresh off winning the Championship with Coventry and securing promotion.
But Xavi really stands out. He’s already made it clear he’s interested in the Chelsea job. Back in 2019, before his Barcelona return, he said, “I don’t hide it; my goal is to come back to Europe and to Barca. It's my challenge, but I’m enjoying this current project. For me, training a team in Barcelona would be a privilege, the biggest privilege.”
He didn’t just talk about Spain either. “Honestly, who doesn’t love the Premier League? The atmosphere, packed stadiums, everyone says it’s incredible,” Xavi admitted. “If I had to pick, I’d go for a big team: City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Tottenham. Klopp, Pochettino, and Unai Emery are doing amazing work there.”
After returning to Barcelona in 2021, Xavi led them to a La Liga title and the Supercopa de España before Hansi Flick took over in 2024. He’s been out of work since.
Now, Chelsea seems seriously interested in the Spaniard. According to The i, the club wants someone who can embed a strong football identity across their teams, something Enzo Maresca started.
Getting Xavi won’t be easy, though. Morocco’s national team reportedly sees him as a top candidate to replace Walid Regragui, and Manchester United is eyeing him too as they weigh options beyond Michael Carrick.
Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite for the Chelsea role, but word is he’d want more control over club decisions if he moves to west London.
COLE PALMER MISSES PENALTY AS CHELSEA SUFFER HISTORIC SIXTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE DEFEAT
Chelsea matched a 1912 record with their 6th straight loss, falling 3-1 to Forest as Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice at the Bridge.
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Chelsea hit rock bottom again, losing 3-1 to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. That’s six Premier League defeats in a row now, something the club hadn’t seen since 1912. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any worse, Forest showed up with a makeshift lineup and absolutely stunned them. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice, one barely a minute into the match, and then Igor Jesus put away a penalty, and suddenly Forest was six points clear of the drop zone.
Chelsea hadn’t scored in five games, and it looked like that streak would go on forever. Then, in stoppage time, Joao Pedro finally managed an overhead kick to break the drought. That run was made even more ridiculous earlier when Cole Palmer missed a first-half penalty. Matz Sels, Forest’s backup goalkeeper, saved it.
Honestly, the crowd in the Shed End probably barely recognised their own team. Pereira swapped in seven new outfield players, most of them with almost no league experience; he was clearly thinking about the upcoming Europa League semi-final. But it looked like Chelsea was the stranger out there.
Things only got worse for interim head coach Calum McFarlane. He lost Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho to late injuries, so 18-year-old Jesse Derry had to make his Premier League debut. Then, late in the first half, Derry collided heads with Forest’s Zach Abbott and had to be stretchered off after getting oxygen. It was brutal to watch.
The match itself? Chaos. Less than two minutes in, Chelsea messed up their own throw-in and let Forest stroll through midfield. Dilane Bakwa beat Marc Cucurella with little effort and crossed to Awoniyi, who was completely unmarked and headed it in.
Fifteen minutes later, Chelsea conceded again. Bakwa whipped in another cross; Malo Gusto pulled Awoniyi’s shirt, and VAR handed Forest a penalty. Jesus hammered it right down the middle.
The first half was hopeless, and by the end, serious concern set in after that nasty head clash between Derry and Abbott. Abbott, playing just his second league game, left on his own, but Derry needed serious treatment and was stretchered off.
After a nearly ten-minute stoppage, Palmer’s penalty was stopped by Sels. At halftime, Levi Colwill returned from a major injury he hadn’t played since tearing his ACL in August. He tried to restore order, but nothing changed.
Forest’s third goal came just seven minutes into the second half. Gibbs-White crossed, and Awoniyi tapped in from close range, just managing to stay onside. Chelsea’s keeper, Robert Sanchez, took a knock and left with a bandaged head after colliding with Gibbs-White.
Pedro’s late goal barely counted for anything. The few Chelsea fans left in the stadium cheered, but it was more out of irony than joy.
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