Enzo Maresca stepped onto the podium for his inaugural press conference as the new head coach of Manchester City and made one thing perfectly clear: he will not simply replicate Pep Guardiola’s methods. The 46‑year‑old Italian, who has just taken over from the long‑standing manager whose tenure produced six Premier League crowns – including an unprecedented four‑in‑a‑row – a historic treble and the club’s first Champions League triumph, said he intends to forge his own path while still respecting the core principles that have made City successful. Maresca’s relationship with the club is not a fresh start. He first arrived at the Etihad as an academy coach, later advancing to become Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022‑23 season, the campaign that saw City dominate domestically and claim the coveted European title.
This third spell at the club gives him an intimate understanding of its culture, its expectations and the high‑performance environment that surrounds it. Yet, despite those familiar ties, he insists his appointment is not about mimicking his predecessor. “Every manager brings his own personality, his own day‑to‑day approach,” Maresca explained when asked about the pressure of succeeding one of the most successful coaches in modern football. “We are constantly tweaking ideas, and I don’t believe in a ‘copy‑and‑paste’ formula.
My view of the game differs from Pep’s, and that’s why I reject the notion of simply reproducing what he did.” He went on to note that the clubs he has previously worked for each possessed a clear identity, a factor that attracted City’s hierarchy to him. “I think there is a clear identity at the former clubs I have joined. That is probably the reason the club decided for me; they can see a similar concept with the previous manager.” While acknowledging the stylistic overlap – a possession‑based, attacking brand of football – Maresca emphasized that his interpretation of those ideas will be uniquely his own. The conversation then shifted to Guardiola himself.
Maresca said he has been in frequent contact with Pep since the Spaniard announced his departure. “He needs to enjoy his moment after ten years of playing almost every three days.
It is very demanding, and he deserves a rest,” Maresca said, adding that he respects the former boss’s legacy but must now focus on his own responsibilities. When asked what advice Guardiola offered in his final press conference, the departing manager simply replied, “Just be yourself.” Maresca said those words resonated deeply and will serve as a guiding principle as he navigates the challenges ahead. The new coach is keen to leave his own imprint, independent of the accolades he earned during previous spells at Leicester and Chelsea, where he also secured trophies.
Yet he is fully aware that the expectations at City are relentless. “With a club of this stature, you have to win titles,” he said. “If you only think about the final prize, you miss everything that comes before it. I am a manager who lives day by day, preparing sessions and spending time with the players.” Maresca reiterated that while the ultimate aim is to bring more silverware to Manchester, his focus will be on the immediate tasks – the training ground, the tactical tweaks, the morale of the squad – rather than obsessing over a future May or June.
“We will see day by day,” he added. On the subject of leadership within the squad, Maresca was asked whether a decision had been made about who would succeed Bernardo Silva as captain.
He replied that the conversation was still ongoing, highlighting three potential candidates: defender Rúben Dias, midfielder Rodri and striker Erling Haaland. “We have three players; we need some more. We will decide about that,” he said, indicating that the captaincy will be awarded to someone who embodies the team’s ethos.
The press conference also touched on the fitness concerns surrounding Rodri. The Spanish midfielder, who suffered an ACL injury in 2024, underwent minor back surgery and is expected to miss the start of the season. Maresca confirmed that the club will give him the necessary time to recover, emphasizing that speculation about a possible move to Real Madrid is irrelevant at this stage. “Around a big player there is always speculation, but I’m not worried.
He needs rest, recovery, and then he will be back with us,” Maresca asserted. Analyst Ben Ransom summed up the mood of the event, noting that while many details have changed, the underlying continuity remains. Maresca’s confidence, he observed, mirrors the optimism that once surrounded Guardiola’s arrival, and the new manager appears determined to prove that he can succeed where others have faltered, such as David Moyes after Sir Alex Ferguson or Unai Emery after Arsène Wenger. Maresca also addressed the broader transition the club is undergoing this summer, acknowledging that the transfer window will still be active and that the squad will need fine‑tuning.
Yet he stressed that certain elements – the club’s philosophy, its commitment to attractive football and its ambition for trophies – will stay the same. In closing, Maresca’s message was one of self‑belief and pragmatism. He recognises the enormity of the task ahead, but he also believes that with the support of the City hierarchy, the quality of the playing staff and a clear, day‑by‑day approach, he can guide Manchester City into a new era of success without simply copying the blueprint left by Guardiola. The true test will come on the pitch, where results will ultimately decide whether his philosophy resonates and delivers the expected glory.