• Maresca says he feels “back home” and describes his return to the Etihad Stadium as “a privilege.”

• The new Man City boss says he considers Guardiola “the best coach in the world in the last 20, 25 years.”

• Maresca highlights that Man City have had just three managers in 17 years as a source of confidence.

Enzo Maresca has spoken publicly for the first time as Manchester City head coach, describing his return to the Etihad Stadium as feeling like coming home and outlining the responsibility he feels in succeeding Pep Guardiola.

The 46-year-old addressed the media in his first press conference as City manager, touching on the privilege of the role, the challenge of following one of football’s greatest ever coaches, and the stability that has defined Manchester City’s managerial structure across the past decade and a half.

Advertisement

Maresca was formally confirmed as manager following the resolution of a compensation dispute with Chelsea, and returns to the Etihad Stadium having previously managed the club’s Elite Development Squad and played a key role in the treble-winning campaign of the 2022-23 season.

Maresca: It’s a privilege to succeed Pep, I consider him the best coach in the world

Speaking at his first press conference as Manchester City head coach, Maresca spoke about a full-circle return to the Etihad Stadium as head coach.

“I feel back home. I feel very good. The feeling since day one has been brilliant. So I’m happy,” the 46-year-old began.

Advertisement

On the subject of replacing Guardiola – one of the most consequential managerial successions in English football history, the Italian added: “First of all, I’d like to say it’s a privilege – the reason why the club decided to go for me means it’s a privilege.”

“I consider Pep the best coach in the world in the last 20, 25 years. It’s a challenge; it’s nice, a privilege. Also, the history of managers with many years in the same club, after always you struggle a little – Sir Alex (Ferguson), Arsene (Wenger). But also it’s a challenge to try and do the right things immediately for this organisation, the fans, everyone.”

Maresca: “Three managers in 17 years – this is not normal”

Maresca also spoke at length on the broader organisational stability that he believes gives Manchester City a structural advantage over their rivals, drawing on the club’s exceptional recent history to make the case for why he feels confident about the challenge ahead.

Advertisement

“This club, this organisation, has had three managers in 17 years,” added Maresca. “This is not normal. It doesn’t happen often.

“This probably is one of the things that I’m confident we can do a great job, continue to do the job that has been done in the last 14 or 15 years, since Roberto Mancini, Manuel, and for 10 years with Pep.”

What does Maresca’s tone tell us about his Man City approach?

Maresca’s framing of the three-manager stability as a source of confidence rather than an intimidating standard to meet reflects the mindset that director of football Hugo Viana and City’s hierarchy identified when making him their choice to succeed Guardiola – a manager who understands the organisation, knows its culture and believes he can add to it.

Advertisement

The “back home” framing is not incidental. Maresca has a genuine emotional connection to a club that shaped his development as a coach, and that connection will be visible in every training session, press conference, and tactical decision he makes in the months ahead.

Whether that connection can be translated into the trophies, performances, and consistency that Elliot Anderson and the club’s newly assembled squad deliver on the pitch will define everything – but Maresca’s first words as City manager suggest a man who arrived knowing exactly where he is and exactly what he intends to do.