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

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports 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 surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, is under contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a possible extra year available.

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

He further elaborated, "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 very proud 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, presently placed in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Strain After Recent Remarks

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

Those initial words had fueled widespread talk of a potential rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and called on supporters to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the situation in the open, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the matter unaddressed.

The mood during these media briefings has become increasingly strained, leading to concerns it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.

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

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually disrupt a squad that was just starting to look settled.