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

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

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

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a possible 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 no time for such distractions."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I said 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 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 lunchtime kick-off.

Tensions After Previous Comments

Maresca's most recent comments follow in the wake of he described a previous two-day spell as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.

Those original words had fueled considerable speculation of a potential disagreement 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 building, so we talk about various topics. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."

The manager did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly available for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an unhealed issue that still create unease.

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

The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown notably strained, leading to concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can secure a favourable European draw with good results in their final games.

The lingering question is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a squad that was beginning to look settled.