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

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded fresh talk connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation about his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension available.

"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 such distractions."

He went on to explain, "First of all, 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 rumour. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions After Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments come in the wake of he described a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those original remarks had fueled widespread speculation of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to keep backing the team".

In brighter news, Maresca indicated that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain 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 equally been no resolution forthcoming, creating the disagreement unaddressed.

The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has become notably awkward, leading to concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European position with strong performances in their final games.

The lingering question is whether this off-field situation might eventually affect a team that was just starting to look cohesive.