Chelsea Manager Maresca Rejects Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Gossip

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a potential extra year available.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Strain Following Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial words had sparked considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, creating the matter unaddressed.

The atmosphere during these media briefings has grown increasingly awkward, raising fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising beginning to the season.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a favourable Champions League position with good results in their final matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to appear settled.