Enzo Maresca: Man City manager on what he did after Chelsea, Premier League and Erling Haaland

Enzo Maresca begins his Manchester City tenure fully aware of the magnitude of his task, having been appointed as Pep Guardiola's successor after serving as the legendary manager's assistant during the club's Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign. With his first pre-season drawing to a close, the new City boss has reflected on the unique challenges of following one of football's greatest managers while discussing his preparations for the demanding season ahead. Maresca has been candid about both the pressures and the privileges that come with inheriting the reins from a manager who accumulated 17 major trophies including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

Meeting the Predecessor

In the days following his appointment at the end of June, Maresca made time to meet with Guardiola in Barcelona to discuss the transition. The manager revealed that he spent "some hours together" with his predecessor, having planned the meeting before the season had finished. "I like to go in empty sometimes to see things for myself," Maresca explained, "but he was here so long he has his opinions. But also you have to arrive and see things for yourself, see all the picture."

To signal a fresh chapter, Maresca relocated his office within City's headquarters, moving into the space previously occupied by assistant Pep Lijnders. Guardiola's old office has now been converted into a meeting room, a symbolic step in establishing his own identity at the club while building on its foundations.

The Comparison Question

When asked if following Guardiola represents an impossible challenge, Maresca acknowledged the difficulty while emphasizing his privilege. "Someone asked me if it's the impossible job to follow him – maybe but at the same time it's a privilege," he said. He underlined his admiration for his predecessor, describing him as "the best manager in the world over the last 15 or 20 years."

Maresca is aware that early results will inevitably be compared to Guardiola's standards. "After 10 games, if we have got 10 points, 20 points, 30 points, people will be comparing it to Pep after 10 games. It doesn't put pressure on me," he insisted, suggesting he will not be deterred by such inevitable scrutiny. He highlighted Guardiola's influence across football: "When he started in Spain everyone wanted to play like Barcelona, he moved to Germany everyone wanted to play like Bayern Munich, he comes to England and everyone wants to play like City."

Summer Preparation and New Challenges

Following his mid-season departure to take up the City role, Maresca prioritized spending time with his family, including his wife and four children. Beyond family commitments, the manager has also invested time in understanding artificial intelligence, a growing influence in modern football. "Everyone is talking about AI so I want to understand how it works. So I did two masterclasses to understand it a little bit more and have more knowledge," he revealed.

Maresca identified significant changes in the Premier League compared to three years ago when he was serving as Guardiola's assistant. The most notable shift concerns set-piece play and defensive approaches. "The biggest difference in the Premier League from three years ago is the rise in set-pieces and teams defending man-to-man," he observed. He is also aware of new rules being introduced for the upcoming season in an attempt to speed up the game, including five-second limits for goal-kicks and throw-ins, with possession reverting to the opposition if these limits are exceeded.

Premier League Quality and Backroom Team

Despite the look of crowded penalty areas and challenges presented by set-piece trends, Maresca remains convinced of the Premier League's quality and global standing. "It is because of the quality of the players, the quality of the managers, the organisation of the Premier League. It is completely different compared to other countries," he stated. He acknowledged that while other leagues have elite clubs, the depth in England is unmatched: "Which league can compete with the Premier League? Spain – Barcelona, Real Madrid – yes, but then the rest is not the same. You have six teams here who are more or less there."

Maresca has assembled a diverse coaching staff spanning multiple nationalities. His backroom includes Argentine Willy Caballero, three Spanish coaches, two Italian members, and himself. Being able to speak French, Maresca adds to the linguistic capabilities of the group. First-team coach Danny Walker, an Englishman, followed Maresca from his time working with City's elite development squad and subsequently to Leicester.

When discussing his staff's initiation performances – a City tradition – Maresca noted that as a non-singer, he eschewed the ritual himself. He described goalkeeper coach Michele de Bernardin's performance as "very good" while singling out analyst Javi Molina's rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way" as "the worst."