Enzo Maresca has taken the first tentative steps of a managerial tenure that will be measured against one of the most decorated coaches in modern football. Having been named Pep Guardiola’s successor at Manchester City, Maresca is completing his opening pre-season duties and spoke this week about the challenge of replacing a figure who dominated the club for a decade.
Setting expectations early
Arriving back at City after serving as Guardiola’s assistant during the club’s Treble-winning 2022–23 campaign, Maresca told the five UK-based journalists travelling with the squad to Seoul that short-term comparisons will be inevitable but not decisive. He urged patience while admitting the task is enormous.
"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,"
The new manager said he remains respectful of Guardiola’s record and influence. He described meeting his predecessor in Barcelona shortly before his appointment as "useful" and said they spent several hours talking, but also stressed the importance of forming his own view of the club. To mark a symbolic shift, Maresca has moved into the office of former assistant Pep Lijnders at City’s training complex, while Guardiola’s long-time office has been repurposed as a meeting room.
Background and context
Guardiola departed at the end of last season after compiling an extraordinary haul of silverware at City. Across ten seasons he led the club to a reported 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph — a legacy that sets a challenging benchmark for any successor.
| Achievement | Count |
|---|---|
| Major trophies under Guardiola | 17 |
| Premier League titles | 6 |
| Champions League wins | 1 |
Those numbers help explain why Maresca has been careful in his early comments — generous about Guardiola’s contribution, mindful of the expectations that will follow and clear he intends to stamp his own identity on the team.
Professional courtesies and practicalities
Shortly after his appointment at the end of June, Maresca apologised to his previous club Chelsea for the disruption caused by his mid-season departure. He also explained how he spent the intervening months between jobs, describing an attempt to enjoy some time away from football while remaining ready for the opportunity to lead a top side.
- Has returned to City after a spell as Guardiola’s assistant during the Treble season of 2022–23.
- Met Guardiola in Barcelona prior to formally taking over, describing the meeting as useful to discuss the club.
- Has moved offices within City’s headquarters to signal change while Guardiola’s former office becomes a meeting room.
The early signs from pre-season will matter, but Maresca emphasised that small sample sizes should not dictate verdicts on a season that stretches into the following summer. He also acknowledged the unique cultural footprint Guardiola leaves on English football — a manager whose teams have been widely imitated across Europe.
For City, the appointment represents a new chapter. The combative task for Maresca is to retain the club’s formidable domestic and continental standing while gradually introducing his own methods. Supporters, pundits and rivals will be watching closely in the opening weeks and months; the next manager to occupy the coach’s office faces scrutiny of the highest order.
How Maresca navigates the fine line between continuity and change will define the first season of his reign. If early results are mixed, he has already signalled that context and process will be his defence against knee‑jerk comparisons to the man he has succeeded.
