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

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension available.

"It doesn't bother 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 further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I have stated many times, is solely on 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 ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions Following Recent Comments

Maresca's most recent statement come in the wake of he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those original words had fueled widespread talk of a possible rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton media session, no."

The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to keep backing the team".

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

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an open wound that continues to create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has also been no apology offered, creating the disagreement unresolved.

The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has grown notably awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better Champions League position with strong results in their final games.

The lingering question is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to appear cohesive.