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

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding his next move.

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

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

He further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."

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

Strain After Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked widespread talk of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to keep backing the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

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

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

The mood during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly awkward, raising fears it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the season.

Chelsea's sporting situation is positive: they are fourth in the league, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable European position with strong results in their final matches.

The prevailing question is whether this off-field situation might eventually disrupt a squad that was beginning to appear cohesive.