Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh reports connecting 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, responded to the ongoing speculation surrounding his next move.
Maresca, named Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year available.
"It doesn't bother 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 focus, I said 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 Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.
Strain After Previous Comments
Maresca's most recent comments come in the wake of he described a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those initial words had sparked considerable speculation of a possible rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still create unease.
While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the matter unaddressed.
The mood during the manager's media briefings has become notably strained, raising concerns it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent start to the campaign.
Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable Champions League position with good results in their final games.
The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might begin to disrupt a team that was beginning to appear settled.
