2026-08-11 11:30:20
Enzo Maresca has admitted being Pep Guardiola’s successor might be “the impossible job”.
The former Leicester and Chelsea boss was chosen to follow Guardiola at Manchester City, having worked as his assistant during City’s Treble-winning campaign in the 2022/23 season.
Maresca has almost finished his first pre-season after taking over from Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of last season, leaving behind a legacy of 17 major trophies.
The new manager said: “After 10 games, if we have got 10 points, 20 points, 30 points. People will be comparing it to Pep after 10 games, it doesn’t put pressure on me.
“I have said many times while I was at Leicester or Chelsea, he is the best manager in the world over the last 15 or 20 years.
“When he started in Spain, everyone wanted to play like Barcelona, he moved to Germany everyone wanted to play like Bayern [Munich], he comes to England and everyone wants to play like City.
“Someone asked me if it’s the impossible job to follow him – maybe, but at the same time it’s a privilege.”
Meanwhile, Maresca has revealed he met Guardiola in Barcelona just one day before signing his Manchester City deal, which was “useful” as a chance to get some advice.
He added: “We spent some hours together. We had planned before the season finished here to spend some time in the summer holidays together.
“I like to go in empty sometimes to see things for myself – but he was here so long, he has his opinions. But also you have to arrive and see things for yourself, see all the picture.”
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