Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as Pure Gossip

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

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation about his next move.

Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in June 2024, is under contract that runs until 2029, with a possible extension option.

"It doesn't bother me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," 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 until 2029. And my attention, I said 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 linked with 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.

Tensions Following Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest comments come in the wake of he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked widespread talk of a possible rift between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club'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 definitely stay at the club next season and called on the fans to keep backing the team".

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, potentially in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: An 'Open Wound'

The apparent strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that still create unease.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter publicly, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the matter unaddressed.

The atmosphere during these press conferences has grown notably awkward, leading to concerns it could undermine what has up to now been a decent beginning to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can secure a favourable European position with good results in their remaining games.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this behind-the-scenes dynamic might eventually disrupt a team that was just starting to look cohesive.