Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as '100%' Gossip
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh reports connecting him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his next move.
Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year available.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."
He further elaborated, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I have stated 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 linked with Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions After Recent Remarks
Maresca's latest statement come in the wake of he referred to a recent two-day spell as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.
Those initial words had sparked widespread speculation of a potential disagreement between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we talk 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 keep backing the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.
Analysis: Unresolved Tension
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.
While there has been no further escalation of the situation in the open, there has equally been no resolution offered, leaving the matter unaddressed.
The mood during the manager's press conferences has grown increasingly awkward, raising fears it could undermine what has otherwise been a promising start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with good performances in their remaining games.
The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might eventually affect a team that was just starting to look cohesive.