The new Manchester City manager revealed details of his conversation with Guardiola, why he changed offices, and how he plans to resolve the captaincy question following Bernardo Silva's departure.
Enzo Maresca began his tenure at Manchester City aware that he has taken on one of the toughest jobs in world football. Succeeding Pep Guardiola, a man who brought the club 17 major trophies, including six league titles and a historic Champions League, is a challenge the Italian describes as a privilege, but also a potentially impossible mission.
Before even officially signing his contract, Maresca met with Guardiola in Barcelona. The meeting was arranged before the end of last season, and the two experts spent several hours in conversation. "We had planned before the end of the season to spend some time together during the summer holidays," Maresca told BBC Football.
While he appreciates the information he received, the new manager emphasizes that he does not want to be a mere copy of his predecessor. "I like to sometimes come in empty to see things for myself - but he was here for so long, he has his opinions. But you also have to come in and see things for yourself, see the whole picture," he explained. His approach is symbolically highlighted by a change of office. Instead of Guardiola's old space, which has been converted into a meeting room, Maresca moved into the office of former assistant Pep Lijnders.
He is aware that the public will compare his performance with Guardiola's after just the first ten rounds. "After 10 games, if we have 10 points, 20 points, 30 points. People will compare that with Pep after 10 games, that doesn't put pressure on me," Maresca stated. He considers his predecessor the best coach of the last 15 to 20 years, noting that Guardiola has changed playing styles in every league he has worked in.
"When he started in Spain, everyone wanted to play like Barcelona, he went to Germany and everyone wanted to play like Bayern, he came to England and everyone wants to play like City," said Maresca.
One of the first major decisions will be the choice of a new captain following Bernardo Silva's departure. Maresca revealed that the current team leadership consists of Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and Rodri, but they are missing one more member. "We currently have three or four [in the leadership] and we are missing one. In Rodri's case, we'll see what happens," he said, alluding to Barcelona's failed attempt to sign him.
He particularly commented on the possibility of Haaland wearing the captain's armband. "Erling was one of the first to send me a message when I joined the club," Maresca revealed, but joked about his rule that the captain comes to the touchline for instructions after a goal: "If Erling is captain, we have a problem, can you imagine?" In the friendly against K-League XI on Wednesday, it was Dias who ran to the bench after the first goal.
Between his appointment at the end of June and the start of work, Maresca used the six months for family and additional education. "Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence, so I want to understand how it works. That's why I attended two masterclasses to understand it a bit better and have more knowledge," he said. He also commented on changes in the Premier League, especially the growing importance of set pieces. Arsenal scored 25 goals from set pieces last season, 19 of them from corners.
Despite new rules limiting time for goal kicks and throw-ins to five seconds, Maresca considers the Premier League the best in the world. "Which league can compete with the Premier League? Spain? Barcelona, Real Madrid, yes, but then the rest is not the same. Here you have six teams that are more or less there," he concluded.
His first official test awaits him on Sunday in the Community Shield against Arsenal, where he will show to what extent his City is ready to continue the winning streak.
