Blues Manager Maresca Rejects Man City Speculation as '100%' Rumour

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

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, responded to the persistent speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible 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 no time for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured 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 Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.

Strain After Previous Remarks

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

Those original remarks had sparked widespread speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club next season and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The apparent strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy remains as an unhealed issue that continues to create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the situation publicly, there has equally been no resolution offered, creating the matter unaddressed.

The mood during the manager's press conferences has become notably awkward, raising concerns it could impact what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the season.

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable Champions League position with good results in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.