Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Rumour

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

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extension 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 went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I have stated 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 not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.

Tensions After Recent Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow after he described a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

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

When asked if he had since spoken with the club's sporting directors, Maresca replied, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has also been no resolution forthcoming, creating the matter unresolved.

The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown increasingly strained, raising concerns it could impact what has up to now been a decent beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the Premier League, have reached the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a better Champions League position with good performances in their final games.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a team that was beginning to look settled.