Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as '100%' Rumour

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

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

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year option.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm very proud to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions Following Recent Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow after he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original remarks had fueled considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."

The manager did confirm he would definitely stay at the club next season and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an open wound that still cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the situation in the open, there has also been no resolution forthcoming, creating the disagreement unresolved.

The mood during the manager's media briefings has become notably strained, leading to fears it could impact what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better Champions League draw with good performances in their final matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually affect a squad that was beginning to look cohesive.