Blues Boss Maresca Rejects Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour

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 previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible extra year available.

"It doesn't affect 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 have stated many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's rumour. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

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

Strain Following Recent Comments

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

Those initial words had fueled widespread talk of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

The manager did confirm he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to keep backing the team".

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

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter in the open, there has also been no apology forthcoming, creating the disagreement unaddressed.

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly strained, raising concerns it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the season.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable European draw with good performances in their final matches.

The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to affect a squad that was just starting to look settled.