- Maresca has been appointed Manchester City manager
- He says he is ready for the job and its pressure
- He previously worked at the club under Pep Guardiola
Enzo Maresca has expressed his excitement after being appointed Manchester City manager, saying he is fully aware of the expectations that come with leading the Premier League giants.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the Italian coach described his return to the Etihad as a homecoming, noting that it will be his third spell at the club after previously serving in different coaching roles.
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Maresca thanked the club for trusting him with the position and said he is eager to begin working with the players.
He pledged to build a team capable of winning trophies while playing attractive football, adding that he embraces the pressure that comes with representing Manchester City.
The 46-year-old had long been viewed as the leading candidate to replace Pep Guardiola following widespread reports that the Spaniard would leave the club at the end of the season.
However, Manchester City’s move for Maresca was delayed after Chelsea demanded compensation reportedly worth £17 million, as the Italian remained under contract with the London club until 2029 despite leaving his role in January.
Chelsea later confirmed that Maresca had informed the club earlier in the season that he could be offered the opportunity to succeed Guardiola if the Manchester City job became available.
The London club also reflected on the circumstances surrounding his exit, saying his resignation midway through the campaign came as a surprise.
Maresca now faces the challenge of returning Manchester City to the top of English football after the club endured two consecutive seasons without winning the Premier League title.
He is no stranger to the club, having worked as one of Guardiola’s assistants during City’s historic 2022–23 treble-winning campaign. He also guided Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title during the 2020–21 season.
Before returning to Manchester, Maresca managed Chelsea, where he enjoyed a promising first season by leading the Blues to a fourth-place Premier League finish while also lifting the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite his departure, several Chelsea players were said to have been disappointed to see him leave after building a strong relationship with the squad.
A former midfielder for Juventus and West Bromwich Albion, Maresca is widely recognised for adopting Guardiola’s possession-based style of football, making him a natural choice to continue City’s football philosophy.
Replacing Guardiola will nevertheless be a demanding assignment. The Spaniard left the club after a remarkable 10-year reign that produced 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, before stepping down, citing fatigue after a decade in charge.
City narrowly missed out on the league title in Guardiola’s final campaign, finishing second behind Arsenal, although they still secured both the FA Cup and League Cup.
The club now hopes Maresca can replicate the successful transition Arsenal achieved when former Guardiola assistant Mikel Arteta took charge.
Manchester City are also expected to strengthen the squad during the transfer window, with reports linking the club to Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson in what could become a club-record transfer, while Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi is also believed to be on their shortlist.
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