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

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

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension available.

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

He further elaborated, Primarily, 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 very proud to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

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

Tensions Following Previous Comments

Maresca's most recent statement follow in the wake of he referred to a recent two-day spell as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those original words had sparked considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign 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, possibly available for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

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

While there has been no further escalation of the matter in the open, there has also been no apology forthcoming, creating the disagreement unaddressed.

The mood during the manager's media briefings has become notably awkward, raising fears it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European position with strong results in their remaining games.

The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to look cohesive.