Chelsea Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Links as '100%' Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk linking him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours about his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extension option.

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

He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. 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 fourth in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.

Tensions After Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest comments follow after he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.

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

When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, 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 for the coming campaign 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, possibly available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

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

While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

The mood during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the season.

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

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