Chelsea Manager Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as '100%' Rumour

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk connecting him with a return to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

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

Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, is under contract running through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year option.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," 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 until 2029. 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 rumour. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

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

Strain After Previous Comments

Maresca's most recent comments follow in the wake of he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

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

When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."

The Italian however affirmed he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged supporters to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.

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

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

Chelsea's sporting situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable Champions League position with strong performances in their remaining games.

The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually affect a squad that was just starting to look settled.