Chelsea Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Links as '100%' Gossip

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

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the persistent rumours about his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, is under contract that runs through the end of the decade, with a potential extra year 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 such distractions."

He further elaborated, "First of all, 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 a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

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

Strain After Recent Remarks

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

Those original remarks had sparked considerable speculation of a potential disagreement between the manager 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 facility, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."

The manager did confirm he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to "continue to support the team".

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

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived strain between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no further escalation of the matter in the open, there has also been no resolution forthcoming, leaving the matter unresolved.

The mood during these media briefings has become notably strained, raising fears it could undermine what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.

Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are fourth in the league, have reached the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European draw with strong results in their final matches.

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