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

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded recent talk connecting 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 ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

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

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, 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 ignore it because I know that is not true."

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

Tensions After Recent Comments

Maresca's most recent statement come after he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original words had fueled considerable speculation of a potential rift between the coach 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 facility, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."

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

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

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has also been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the matter unresolved.

The mood during these press conferences has become notably strained, leading to concerns it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising start to the season.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable Champions League draw with good performances in their final matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a team that was beginning to appear settled.