Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who once served as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours about his next move.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract running through the end of the decade, with a potential extension available.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "And at this moment, there is little room for these kind of things."
He went on to explain, "First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said 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 without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting fourth in the top flight, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a lunchtime fixture.
Maresca's most recent statement follow after he described a previous two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those original remarks had sparked considerable talk of a potential rift between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.
When asked if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we talk about different things. But about the Everton media session, no."
The manager did confirm he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and called on the fans to keep backing the team".
In brighter news, Maresca revealed that sidelined attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.
The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the club's hierarchy persists as an unhealed issue that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no further escalation of the situation publicly, there has equally been no apology offered, creating the disagreement unresolved.
The mood during these press conferences has become notably strained, raising fears it could impact what has otherwise been a decent beginning to the season.
Chelsea's on-field situation is positive: they are in the top four in the Premier League, have qualified for the Carabao Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a favourable European position with strong results in their final matches.
The prevailing question is whether this off-field situation might begin to affect a squad that was beginning to appear cohesive.
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