Blues Manager Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh talk connecting him with a move to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, responded to the persistent rumours about his next move.
Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a potential extension option.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "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 said 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 without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Tensions Following Previous Remarks
Maresca's most recent statement come after he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.
Those initial words had fueled widespread talk of a potential rift between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."
The manager however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Perspective: An 'Open Wound'
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The mood during these media briefings has grown 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 positive: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a better Champions League draw with good results in their remaining matches.
The prevailing question is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to disrupt a team that was beginning to look cohesive.
