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

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

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the persistent rumours about his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extension available.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," 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 attention, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm very proud to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Strain Following Previous Comments

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

Those initial words had sparked considerable talk of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and called on supporters to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

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

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

The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown notably strained, raising fears it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the season.

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 Champions League position with good performances in their final games.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to affect a team that was just starting to look settled.