Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Rumour

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

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a possible extension 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 these kind of things."

He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I have stated 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 connected to Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Strain After Recent Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he described a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had fueled widespread talk of a potential disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, 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 definitely remain at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards 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 strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that still create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has also been no apology forthcoming, leaving the matter unaddressed.

The atmosphere during these press conferences has become increasingly strained, leading to concerns it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League position with strong performances in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a squad that was beginning to look settled.