Enzo Maresca, appointed as Manchester City manager at the end of June, met with travelling UK-based media in Seoul near the end of his first pre-season in charge to address the challenge of succeeding Pep Guardiola, who stepped down after leading the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.
Maresca speaks on succeeding Guardiola at Manchester City ahead of new season
Enzo Maresca, appointed as Manchester City manager at the end of June, met with travelling UK-based media in Seoul near the end of his first pre-season in charge to address the challenge of succeeding Pep Guardiola, who stepped down after leading the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.
Maresca previously served as Guardiola's assistant during City's 2022-23 season, in which the club won a treble. He described the task of following Guardiola as 'maybe' an impossible job, but also 'a privilege', saying points tallies after ten matches would invite comparisons but would not add pressure on him.
According to Maresca, he met Guardiola in Barcelona one day before officially signing as his replacement. He said the meeting lasted several hours and was 'useful' given Guardiola's decade at the club, though Maresca also said he preferred to 'arrive and see things for yourself'.
To mark a change in the working environment, Maresca moved into the office previously occupied by former assistant Pep Lijnders at City's headquarters. Guardiola's former office has reportedly been converted into a meeting room.
Maresca said that during the six months between leaving Chelsea and taking the City role, he spent time with his family — his wife and four children — and attended two masterclasses on artificial intelligence to better understand the technology.
Maresca identified the increased use of set-pieces and man-to-man defending as the biggest tactical shift in the Premier League since he was last involved three years ago. He noted that Arsenal scored 25 goals from set-pieces last season, including 19 from corners, and said improving from set-pieces was an area City were looking to address.
New rules for the coming season require players to take goal-kicks and throw-ins within five seconds, with possession awarded to the opposition if the limit is exceeded. Maresca said he still considered the Premier League the best league, citing the quality of players, managers, and organisation, and suggested around six clubs were capable of competing at the top level.
Maresca said he did not perform an initiation song in front of the squad, stating 'the manager doesn't sing.' He described analyst Javi Molina's rendition of Frank Sinatra's My Way as 'the worst' and 'a disaster', while praising goalkeeping coach Michele de Bernardin's performance.
The backroom staff includes Argentine Willy Caballero, two Italians, and three Spaniards, with Maresca also able to speak French. First-team coach Danny Walker, described as 'the Englishman', has worked alongside Maresca since the City elite development squad and followed him to Leicester and Chelsea.
Maresca said he will personally select the next City captain following Bernardo Silva's departure and wants a homegrown player involved in the leadership group. The current leadership group consists of Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and Rodri, who has been the subject of a reported failed bid from Barcelona. Maresca noted that Haaland was among the first to message him upon his appointment but indicated the captaincy decision remained open, adding 'in the case of Rodri, see what happens.'
- When exactly Maresca's meeting with Guardiola in Barcelona took place is not specified beyond 'a day before he officially signed'
- The source does not confirm who the homegrown player candidate for the leadership group is
- The source does not establish whether Rodri will remain at City or join Barcelona
- The source does not detail the outcome or content of the AI masterclasses Maresca attended
- The source does not specify which City players are considered 'homegrown' for the purposes of the captaincy committee
- The source does not state City's pre-season results or overall record
- The source does not give the date or location of the Community Shield match beyond naming Arsenal as opponents