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

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

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract running through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year available.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for such distractions."

He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. 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 fixture.

Strain After Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest comments come in the wake of he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.

Those initial words had sparked considerable talk of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

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

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has equally been no resolution offered, creating the disagreement unaddressed.

The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown increasingly awkward, raising fears it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting situation is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European draw with strong performances in their final games.

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