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

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".

The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the ongoing speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a possible extra year available.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things."

He further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm very proud 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 not true."

Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions After Recent Comments

Maresca's most recent comments come after he described a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had fueled considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an unhealed issue that continues to create unease.

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

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become notably strained, leading to concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a favourable Champions League draw with strong performances in their remaining matches.

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