Enzo Maresca reasserts Chelsea position after controversial comments: 'I said what I said' | OneFootball

Italian has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge

Maresca was cryptic when asked who he was referring to but dismissed the suggestion he had meant the fanbase. That prompted widespread speculation that he was referring to the Chelsea owners and sporting directors.

Quizzed on Monday ahead of the following day’s match against Cardiff City about those comments, he opted to say as little as possible on the matter.

He has since spoken with the sporting directors, though not about his comments, he insists.

Club sources initially played down his post-Everton comments as an “emotional reaction to an emotional game”, but Maresca has now directly contradicted that suggestion.

The Blues boss replied “absolutely not” when asked whether any club officials had asked him to explain his initial comments to them.

Asked whether there are things that still need to be addressed in order for the club and himself to move forward together, Maresca said: “It's a question for them, not for me.

“What I said, it was not an emotional reaction. It was not an emotional reaction. I said what I said. Full stop.”

Pressed on whether things need to be addressed with the club’s hierarchy, he maintained the same line, replying: “I already said what I said.”

Chelsea’s transfer decision are made chiefly by the club’s owners in consultation with their co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, and the recruitment team that work under them.

When asked whether he would like greater power on signings, Maresca said: “No, no, absolutely not. No, no, no. I’m happy with the squad.

“The reason why I signed with this club, if you remember I have said many times, is because I think the squad is very good. I’m completely OK.”

Chelsea, who visit Newcastle on Saturday, are still without Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo in midfield due to injuries, which has placed something of a burden on their two best midfielders, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

But Maresca would not be drawn on whether more midfielders need to be signed in the upcoming January window.

“I always answer this question [the same way], from day one. The recruitment team are the ones who decide on that.”