No one should believe any of these stories since they can not be verified. However, even if in fact he did say it, nothing is definite. Forget recent gedolim who made predictions, rishonim and acharonim gave dates for when moshiach would come and it all passed.
Rashi has a date. Ramban in the beginning of bereishis has a long detailed piece and gives a time. I think Rav Sadia Gaon also? Other Rishonim did as well and it all passed. Ramabam says that there is no mesorah on these things and not much benefit comes from looking into these things and one should not make calculations. There is no disagreement about the gemorah that says that those who make calculations for when he will arrive should rot (to that effect).
So why did so many rishonim and acharonim make calculations? They all understood that the gemorah means only if you believe that the specific time given must be so. They gave it because they wanted it so much. They did not believe that it must be so or they would all have been violating the gemorah.
Even the Rambam himself who writes about the issur of calculating give a date! He has a mesorah from his grandfather! But it is long passed. He obviously agrees that the issur is only if you fully believe that it must be so.
The Chasam Sofer also comments regarding the Ramban’s time frame which long past, that due to his desire for the coming of mashiach he made a calculation which was much sooner than the real date. So the Chasam Sofer makes his own new calculation (based on the long piece in Ramban at end of first perek in Bereishis) and guess what? His time long passed as well….
Bottom line. These great men got reward for WANTING AND ANTICIPATING moshiach as is clearly seen in their calculations.
I seem to recall that there is an Iben Ezra in Daniel or perhaps a different mefaresh that even he did not know the exact date as the verse states, Go Daniel…for the matter is hidden…I do not have a Daniel with me so I can not confirm.
We must all 1)believe in it and 2)hope for it. (hoping for it is actually part of the ani mamin. See Ramban’s actual terminology in Sanhedrin mishanyos – Cheilek). Yes he will come, but when? NO ONE knows.