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

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".

The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a potential extra year available.

"It doesn't affect 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, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I have stated 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 Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

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

Tensions Following Recent Remarks

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

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

When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

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

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

The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown notably strained, leading to fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the season.

Chelsea's sporting situation is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a better European position with strong performances in their final matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a team that was beginning to look cohesive.