Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded fresh reports connecting 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, responded to the ongoing speculation about his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a possible extra year available.

"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 these kind of things."

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 a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Strain Following Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original remarks had fueled considerable speculation of a potential rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The manager did confirm he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

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

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better Champions League draw with strong results in their final games.

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