Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Man City Speculation as Pure Rumour

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.

The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract running through the end of the decade, 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 further elaborated, "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 speculation. 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, presently placed in fourth position in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.

Tensions Following Previous Remarks

Maresca's latest comments follow in the wake of he referred to a recent two-day spell as his most difficult since joining Chelsea.

Those original remarks had sparked considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.

When pressed if he had since spoken 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 Italian however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".

In more positive news, Maresca revealed that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly 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 remains as an open wound that still create unease.

While there has been no deepening of the situation publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

The atmosphere during the manager's press conferences has become increasingly strained, raising fears it could impact what has up to now been a promising beginning to the season.

Chelsea's on-field situation is strong: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with good results in their remaining matches.

The prevailing uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might begin to disrupt a team that was just starting to look settled.