Chelsea gaffer Enzo Maresca has labelled recent reports connecting him with a return to Manchester City as "100% speculation".
The 45-year-old, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing speculation about his future.
Maresca, named Chelsea manager in June 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extra year option.
"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation," Maresca said. "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 until 2029. 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 linked with Juventus in Italy. So I ignore it because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, currently sitting in fourth position in the Premier League, are set to face Newcastle United on Saturday in a lunchtime kick-off.
Maresca's latest statement come after he referred to a previous 48-hour period as his most difficult since arriving at Chelsea.
Those initial remarks had sparked considerable speculation of a possible disagreement between the manager and the club's key decision-makers.
When pressed if he had discussed matters with the club's leadership, Maresca responded, "We are in the same facility, so we speak about different things. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The manager however affirmed he would "absolutely" remain at the club next season and urged the fans to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could return sooner than expected, potentially available for a fixture against Aston Villa on 27 December.
The apparent disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an open wound that still create unease.
While there has been no further escalation of the situation in the open, there has equally been no resolution offered, leaving the disagreement unaddressed.
The mood during the manager's media briefings has grown increasingly strained, leading to fears it could impact what has otherwise been a promising start to the campaign.
Chelsea's sporting situation is positive: they are fourth in the league, have qualified for the Carabao Cup last four, and can achieve a favourable Champions League draw with good performances in their final matches.
The lingering question is whether this off-field dynamic might begin to affect a team that was just starting to look cohesive.
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