Exclusive: Enzo Maresca has already started the groundwork as Manchester City’s new manager, despite the Italian not yet being confirmed as Pep Guardiola’s successor
Enzo Maresca is yet to be announced as Manchester City’s next manager (Image: (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images))
Enzo Maresca has started a new job as Manchester City manager. The Italian has spent time at the club’s training ground this week, getting used to his new surroundings.
Etihad leaders still need to approve Maresca as Josep Guardiola’s replacement. President Khaldoon Al Mubarak is pushing ahead with compensation negotiations with Chelsea, which sacked Maresca in January.
But Maresca wasted no time and set out on the impossible task of following in Guardiola’s footsteps. Maresca studies data belonging to each member of the team.
He plans to use this to devise pre-season training sessions when the team returns to the club next month. Some return to Manchester later than others because of the North American World Cup. Maresca has agreed a three-year contract with Etihad Airways.
It is thought that he plans to meet with club executives next week to discuss what is expected of him. Guardiola decided to resign last summer.
However, he kept his decision private and only a few members of his inner circle knew that he would be stepping down after 12 months. City targeted Maresca six months ago when it became clear he was available after he was sacked by Chelsea.
Guardiola won an astonishing 20 trophies during his ten-year reign at City, including the 2023 Treble. Maresca knows he’ll be hiding in thin air once the season starts.
Enzo Maresca was previously Pep Guardiola’s assistant (Image: (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
But at least he was heartened by the news that City had signed England star Elliott Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a British record deal of £116m (which could rise to £130m).
City will begin a new era without Bernardo Silva, one of Guardiola’s key players, but Silva chose to leave the club when his contract expired. He then joined Real Madrid. John Stones also left Etihad Airways.
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