Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has labelled fresh talk linking him with a move to Manchester City as nothing but hearsay.
The Italian manager, who previously worked as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at the Etihad, responded to the ongoing rumours about his future.
Maresca, appointed Chelsea boss in the summer of 2024, has a contract that runs until 2029, with a potential extra year available.
"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 further elaborated, Primarily, 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 rumour. One week ago I was linked with Juventus in Italy. So I don't pay attention because I know that is without foundation."
Chelsea, presently placed fourth in the Premier League, are scheduled to face Newcastle United this Saturday in a 12:30 GMT kick-off.
Maresca's most recent comments come after he described a recent two-day spell as his "worst" since arriving at Chelsea.
Those original words had sparked widespread talk of a possible disagreement between the coach and the club's ownership hierarchy.
When asked if he had since spoken with the club's sporting directors, Maresca responded, "We are in the same building, so we talk about various topics. But about the post-Everton press conference, no."
The manager however affirmed he would definitely remain at the club for the coming campaign and urged supporters to "continue to support the team".
In more positive news, Maresca indicated that injured attackers Liam Delap and Estevao Willian could be back sooner than expected, possibly in contention for a match against Aston Villa later this month.
The perceived disconnect between Maresca and the Chelsea board remains as an open wound that continues to cause concern.
While there has been no deepening of the matter publicly, there has equally been no resolution forthcoming, creating the disagreement unresolved.
The mood during these press conferences has grown increasingly awkward, leading to concerns it could undermine what has otherwise been a decent start to the season.
Chelsea's on-field position is positive: they are fourth in the Premier League, have qualified for the League Cup semi-finals, and can achieve a better Champions League position with good results in their remaining games.
The prevailing question is whether this off-field dynamic might eventually disrupt a team that was just starting to appear settled.
