Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Speculation as '100%' Rumour

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

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his next move.

Maresca, named Chelsea manager in the summer of 2024, has a contract running until 2029, with a potential extension 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 such distractions."

He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. 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 connected to Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.

Strain Following Previous Comments

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial words had sparked widespread talk of a possible rift between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.

When pressed if he had since spoken with the Chelsea's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we speak about various topics. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would definitely remain at the club next season and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

In brighter news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return ahead of schedule, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Analysis: Unresolved Tension

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

While there has been no deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no apology forthcoming, leaving the matter unaddressed.

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

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can secure a better Champions League position with good results in their final matches.

The prevailing question is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually affect a team that was just starting to look settled.