Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has branded recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the persistent rumours surrounding his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss 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 100% speculation," Maresca said. "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 just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.
Tensions After Previous Comments
Maresca's latest statement follow after he described a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those original words had sparked considerable talk of a possible rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."
The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly available for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.
While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.
The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become notably awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has up to now been a decent beginning to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European draw with strong results in their final matches.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look settled.