Blues Boss Maresca Rejects Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Gossip

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours about his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a possible extension option.

"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 for several more years. And my attention, I have stated many times, is solely on this club and I'm very proud to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. 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 comments follow in the wake of he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked considerable talk of a possible rift between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about various topics. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The manager did confirm he would definitely remain at the club next season and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an unhealed issue that still create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the situation publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

The mood during these media briefings has become notably awkward, raising concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have reached the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better European draw with good results in their final matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a team that was beginning to appear settled.