Chelsea Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Speculation as '100%' Gossip

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, responded to the persistent speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a possible 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 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 honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Strain Following Recent Comments

Maresca's most recent comments come in the wake of he referred to a recent two-day spell as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial words had fueled considerable talk of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. 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 supporters to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an open wound that still cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the situation publicly, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the matter unresolved.

The atmosphere during these media briefings has grown increasingly awkward, leading to concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better Champions League draw with strong results in their final matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually disrupt a squad that was just starting to look settled.