Chelsea Boss Maresca Rejects Manchester City Speculation as Pure Gossip

Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, is under contract running until 2029, with a potential 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 such distractions."

He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. 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 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, presently placed in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Tensions Following Previous Remarks

Maresca's most recent comments come after he referred to a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial words had fueled considerable speculation of a possible rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and called on the fans to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an unhealed issue that still cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

The atmosphere during the manager's media briefings has become increasingly awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has up to now been a decent start to the season.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can secure a favourable European draw with strong performances in their final matches.

The prevailing question is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a squad that was beginning to appear settled.