Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as '100%' Rumour

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the ongoing rumours about his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a possible extension available.

"It doesn't bother 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, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my attention, I said 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 don't pay attention 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 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions Following Recent Remarks

Maresca's latest comments come in the wake of he referred to a previous two-day spell as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked widespread talk of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had since spoken with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager however affirmed he would definitely stay at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available 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 cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no apology offered, creating the matter unresolved.

The atmosphere during these media briefings has become notably strained, raising fears it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting situation is positive: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a better Champions League position with strong results in their final games.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to appear cohesive.