Chelsea Boss Maresca Rejects Manchester City Links as Pure Gossip
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, 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 attention, I said many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured 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, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.
Strain After Previous Comments
Maresca's latest comments come after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those original remarks had sparked considerable talk of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."
The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and urged supporters to keep backing the team".
In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has equally been no resolution offered, creating the disagreement unresolved.
The mood during these press conferences has become increasingly strained, leading to fears it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with good performances in their final games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.