Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as '100%' Gossip

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

The Italian manager, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours surrounding his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible extension option.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca stated. "And at this moment, there is little room for such distractions."

He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I have stated 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 a role in Italy with Juventus. So I don't pay attention because I know that is not true."

Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT fixture.

Tensions Following Previous Comments

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

Those initial remarks had fueled widespread talk of a possible rift between the coach and the club's key decision-makers.

When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca replied, "We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton media session, no."

The manager however affirmed he would definitely stay at the club next season and called on the fans to keep backing the team".

In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly available for a match against Aston Villa later this month.

Perspective: 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 publicly, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the matter unresolved.

The mood during the manager's media briefings has become notably strained, raising fears it could impact what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the season.

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

The lingering question is whether this behind-the-scenes situation might eventually affect a team that was just starting to appear cohesive.