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

Chelsea gaffer 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 assistant at the Etihad, addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extension available.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I said many times, is solely on 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 don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Strain After Recent Remarks

Maresca's most recent comments follow after he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

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

When asked if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about various topics. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to keep backing the team".

In brighter news, Maresca indicated that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no apology offered, leaving the matter unaddressed.

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become notably strained, raising fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League position with good results in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a squad that was beginning to look cohesive.