Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports linking him with a return to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, addressed the persistent rumours surrounding his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, is under 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 such distractions."
He further elaborated, "First of all, because I have a contract here for several more years. And my attention, I said many times, is just about this club and I'm honoured to be here. But again, it's speculation. One week ago I was connected to a role in Italy with Juventus. So I ignore it because I know that is not true."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the top flight, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.
Tensions Following Previous Comments
Maresca's latest comments come after he referred to a recent 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial words had fueled considerable talk of a potential disagreement between the manager and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no."
The Italian did confirm he would "absolutely" stay at the club for the coming campaign and called on supporters to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a match against Aston Villa on 27 December.
Analysis: Unresolved Tension
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 deepening of the situation in the open, there has also been no apology offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The atmosphere during these media briefings has grown notably awkward, raising fears it could impact what has up to now been a decent start to the campaign.
Chelsea's on-field position is strong: they are in the top four in the league, have qualified for the League Cup last four, and can secure a favourable European position with strong performances in their final matches.
The prevailing question is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually affect a team that was just starting to look cohesive.
