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

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

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours about his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extension available.

"It doesn't bother 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 further elaborated, Primarily, 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 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 without foundation."

Chelsea, presently placed in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.

Strain After Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest comments follow after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those original words had sparked considerable speculation of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

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

Chelsea's sporting position is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a better Champions League draw with strong performances in their remaining matches.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually affect a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.