Sawt Falasteen - Chelsea's Maresca says Man City link '100 percent' speculation

The Italian said last weekend that he had suffered his "worst 48 hours" since joining the club in July last year.

Maresca made the surprising comments after his side's 2-0 win at home to Everton, hitting out at unnamed parties for failing to support him and his players, though he stressed that he was not referring to fans.

The remarks fuelled intense speculation he was taking aim at the club's owners and sporting directors.

A report in the Athletic said the former Leicester boss was high on City's list for a replacement for Pep Guardiola, should the Spaniard leave at the end of the season.

But Maresca brushed that question aside at his press conference on the eve of Chelsea's Premier League match at Newcastle.

"It doesn't affect me at all because I know that is 100 percent speculation," he said

"And in this moment, there is no time for these kinds of things. First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029. And my focus, I said many times, that is just about this club and I'm very proud to be here."

Maresca was unequivocal when pressed over whether he would make a promise to fans that he would still be at Stamford Bridge next season.

"Absolutely, yes," he said. "Again, I have a contract until 2029 and this is speculation 100 percent.

"So I don't have nothing to add because, again, I don't pay attention and if we continue to talk about that, that means that I'm paying attention to that."

Maresca, who arrived at Chelsea in July 2024, won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

His team are fourth in the Premier League table and can qualify automatically for the last 16 of the Champions League.

On Tuesday, they beat third-tier Cardiff to progress to the League Cup semi-finals, where they will face either Arsenal or Crystal Palace.

H.Jarrar--SF-PST