Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Rumour

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

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent rumours about his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a potential extension 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 further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was linked with 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 scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Strain After Previous Remarks

Maresca's most recent statement follow after he referred to a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those original words had fueled widespread talk of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to keep backing the team".

In brighter news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that still create unease.

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

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly awkward, leading to concerns it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the season.

Chelsea's sporting situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European position with good results in their final matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a squad that was just starting to appear settled.