Blues Boss Maresca Dismisses Manchester City Links as '100%' Gossip

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

The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant in Manchester, responded to the ongoing rumours about his future.

Maresca, named Chelsea boss in June 2024, has a contract running through the end of the decade, with a possible extra year 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 attention, I have stated 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 linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."

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

Strain After Recent Remarks

Maresca's most recent comments follow after he described a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.

Those initial remarks had fueled widespread speculation of a potential disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.

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

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

In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined forwards Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back ahead of schedule, possibly available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.

Perspective: Unresolved Tension

The perceived strain between Maresca and the Chelsea board persists as an open wound that continues to cause concern.

While there has been no deepening of the matter in the open, there has also been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unresolved.

The mood during these press conferences has grown notably strained, leading to fears it could impact what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.

Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are fourth in the league, have reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can secure a better Champions League draw with good results in their final games.

The lingering uncertainty is whether this off-field situation might eventually disrupt a team that was just starting to appear cohesive.