Chelsea Manager Maresca Rejects Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, responded to the persistent speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year available.

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

He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

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

Strain Following Recent Remarks

Maresca's latest statement follow in the wake of he referred to a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those initial words had fueled considerable speculation of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and called on 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, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

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

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has grown notably awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising start to the season.

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

The prevailing question is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was just starting to look settled.