Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh talk connecting him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours about his next move.
Maresca, named Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year option.
"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 further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured 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 without foundation."
Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions After Previous Remarks
Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those original words had fueled considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that still create unease.
While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has also been no resolution forthcoming, creating the matter unaddressed.
The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has grown notably strained, leading to fears it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better Champions League draw with good results in their final matches.
The lingering question is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a squad that was beginning to appear cohesive.