Manchester City are embarking on a fresh chapter after Pep Guardiola announced his departure, and the club has placed the reins in the hands of Enzo Maresca. This marks Maresca's third spell at the Etihad, having previously worked as an academy coach during the 2020-21 season and later as Guardiola's assistant throughout the historic 2022-23 campaign that yielded the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble. While he is no stranger to the high‑stakes environment of a trophy‑hungry outfit, Maresca has never been the principal architect of such a haul. The pressing question, therefore, is whether he possesses the credentials and the support network to guide City to further glory in the 2026-27 season.
Sky Sports correspondents Ben Ransom and Laura Hunter break down Maresca's prospects in his inaugural year, probing whether silverware will be the sole metric by which his tenure is judged after the seismic exit of Guardiola. The new manager has been afforded a relatively gentle introduction, with his first three fixtures pitting City against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry City. These opponents, while competitive, are generally regarded as less demanding than the heavyweight clashes that lie ahead, granting Maresca a chance to settle his ideas and to allow the squad’s World Cup veterans to ease back into the rigors of the English season. One of those veterans, Rodri, featured almost every minute of Spain’s victorious World Cup run and is therefore the player most vulnerable to fatigue.
The early schedule, which still heavily favours City even without Rodri, should enable a phased reintegration for the Spanish midfielder, preserving his freshness for the more grueling fixtures that follow. However, the lenient start does not absolve Maresca of pressure; the three opening games are still winnable on paper, and dropping points could set a negative tone. Moreover, City will soon face Manchester United and Liverpool within the first month of the campaign – encounters that carry significance far beyond the immediate result and will test Maresca’s tactical acumen under intense scrutiny.
In his introductory press conference, Maresca described his new role as a "dream situation," emphasising the balanced squad and depth that Guardiola assembled. He noted that the consistency of the playing group provides the stability he needs to execute his vision. Yet the expectations placed on him mirror those once shouldered by Guardiola, minus the extraordinary job security the Spaniard enjoyed. While Maresca enjoys a strong rapport with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, he cannot assume the same latitude to experiment without delivering results.
Stylistically, Maresca’s approach is not a carbon copy of Guardiola’s, but there are clear overlaps. Both favour possession, high‑pressing, and a proactive stance. Maresca, however, appears inclined to adopt a more expansive template, stretching the pitch with wingers who operate high and wide. Under Guardiola, City’s wide players were often instructed to cut inside and create overloads in central areas; Maresca’s system may see them stay broader, widening the attacking shape.
The team’s fluidity around the midfield anchor Rodri will likely persist, but Maresca is expected to implement a more conventional 4‑2‑3‑1 formation, assigning clearer positional responsibilities compared with the positional interchangeability that characterised the previous era. A functional No 10 will be essential in this set‑up. At Chelsea, Maresca relied on Cole Palmer for that linking role; at City he now has the luxury of choosing between Phil Foden, a home‑grown creative spark, or the French‑Italian prodigy Rayan Cherki, who could provide the same dynamism if Maresca wishes to retain a similar structure.
In recent transfer windows, under sporting director Hugo Viana, City have deliberately lowered the average age of the squad from 29 to just above 25. This rejuvenation has come at the cost of losing senior figures such as Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Kevin De Bruyne, creating a leadership gap that the club must fill. Rodri and Ruben Dias remain pivotal, while Erling Haaland has taken on an increasingly vocal leadership role.
Experienced centre‑backs Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol, alongside midfield anchor Mateo Kovacic, ensure the spine remains robust. The recruitment strategy has been both expensive and shrewd.
Elliot Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest for a substantial fee, adding physicality and a long‑term midfield option, while young prospect Jeremy Monga was poached from Leicester to bolster depth. The club’s wish list still includes a right‑back and an attacking winger, with Lille’s teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, who shone for Morocco at the World Cup, drawing interest from both City and Arsenal. Potential departures could involve a range of players—Savinho, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Jack Grealish, Tijjani Reijnders and Rico Lewis—depending on whether suitable offers meet the club’s valuation.
Transfer activity is expected to accelerate now that the World Cup has concluded. For the first time since the Abu Dhabi takeover, the long‑term plan for City is not set in stone. A decade ago, the entire infrastructure was built to attract a manager of Guardiola’s calibre. With his exit, the club must redefine its vision.
The culture of winning is deeply ingrained; anything short of trophies is unlikely to be tolerated for long. Supporters demand both entertainment and triumph, a balance that proved elusive during Maresca’s brief spell at Chelsea. Maresca is not alone among the Premier League’s elite clubs in facing a managerial newcomer. Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola, Chelsea have turned to Xabi Alonso, and Manchester United have given Michael Carrick a chance, albeit with less fanfare.
This period of uncertainty creates fertile ground for ambitious coaches willing to make a mark—yet it also represents a sink‑or‑swim scenario. Off the pitch, City continue to grapple with 115 pending Premier League charges.
Maresca will inevitably face probing questions from the media regarding these investigations. Guardiola was adept at navigating press scrutiny, often deflecting or controlling the narrative. Maresca, who endured criticism at Chelsea primarily over footballing matters, will need to manage this new dimension of public pressure, as the outcome of the charges could shape perceptions of his first year.
City have publicly denied all allegations, and Maresda’s first official press conference is scheduled for Friday, 24 July. A live blog will track every development as the new era unfolds. The club also continues to promote fan engagement initiatives, such as the Super 6 competition offering a £250,000 prize, underscoring the blend of sporting ambition and commercial activity that defines modern football at the Etihad.