Enzo Maresca has firmly rejected suggestions he could leave Chelsea to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, labelling the reports as "100 per cent speculation."
The 45-year-old Italian addressed the rumours at his press conference on Friday ahead of Chelsea's Premier League fixture at Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime.
Maresca said: "It doesn't affect me at all because I know it's 100 per cent speculation. In this moment, there is no time for these kinds of things, first of all because I have a contract here until 2029."
He added that similar speculation had linked him with Juventus just a week earlier, insisting he pays no attention to such reports.
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The speculation emerged following reports on Thursday that Manchester City have included Maresca on their shortlist of potential candidates should Guardiola depart at the end of the current campaign.
Maresca has a well-established relationship with the Etihad.
He has previously worked under Guardiola as both Under-23 coach and assistant manager before departing to take charge of Leicester in 2023.
The Athletic reported this week that the Chelsea head coach could be considered as a replacement for his former mentor, whose contract with City runs until 2027.
Enzo Maresca has firmly rejected suggestions he could leave Chelsea to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City
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Maresca said: "My focus is just about this club and I'm very proud to be here."
The speculation emerged following reports on Thursday that Manchester City have included Maresca on their shortlist of potential candidates should Guardiola depart at the end of the current campaign.
When asked directly whether he could guarantee his presence at Stamford Bridge beyond this season, Maresca was unequivocal.
He responded: "Absolutely, yes. I have a contract until 2029."
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Pep Guardiola could leave City at the end of the season | REUTERSThe head coach made clear he had no intention of entertaining further questions on the matter.
He suggested that continued discussion would only serve to validate the rumours.
He said: "This is speculation, 100 per cent. I don't have nothing to add. I don't pay attention.
"If we continue to talk about it it means I'm paying attention. I'm just focused on Newcastle and on my job."
The head coach made clear he had no intention of entertaining further questions on the matter
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The speculation surrounding Maresca's future follows comments he made after Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Everton last weekend, when he described the preceding period as his "worst 48 hours" at the club since arriving in June.
The head coach suggested at the time that he and his players had not received adequate support from unnamed parties during a challenging run of results.
Maresca declined to elaborate on those remarks when speaking to the media on Monday and again refused to expand on them before the Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Cardiff in midweek.
However, he indicated on Friday that his relationship with the club hierarchy remains intact, stating things were "absolutely" okay between himself and those in charge.
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