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

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a return to Manchester City as "100% speculation".

The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extra year 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 have stated 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 don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

Tensions Following Previous Remarks

Maresca's most recent statement follow after he described a recent 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

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

When asked if he had discussed matters with the Chelsea's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

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

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

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an unhealed issue that still create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.

The mood during these media briefings has grown increasingly strained, leading to fears it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the season.

Chelsea's sporting position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better European position with good results in their remaining games.

The prevailing question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might begin to affect a team that was beginning to appear cohesive.