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

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has branded fresh 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 in Manchester, responded to the persistent speculation surrounding his future.

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

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is completely unfounded," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."

He went on to explain, Primarily, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my focus, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm very proud to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

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

Tensions After Recent Remarks

Maresca's most recent statement come after he described a previous 48-hour period as his "worst" since joining Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had sparked considerable talk of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When asked 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 post-Everton media session, no."

The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to "continue to support the team".

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

Perspective: An 'Open Wound'

The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that still create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has equally been no apology forthcoming, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.

The mood during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly awkward, leading to fears it could undermine what has up to now been a promising start to the campaign.

Chelsea's sporting position is positive: they are in the top four in the league, have reached the League Cup last four, and can achieve a better European draw with good performances in their remaining games.

The lingering question is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a squad that was just starting to look cohesive.