Enzo Maresca: 'It's a privilege' to follow Pep Guardiola at Man City

The former Chelsea boss has taken over after Guardiola stepped down at the end of last season, bringing a trophy-laden decade in charge to a close. Guardiola collected 17 major honours with City, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Maresca is approaching the end of his first summer programme in charge and has already begun making his mark. Speaking to five UK-based travelling media outlets in Seoul, he discussed the challenges of succeeding Guardiola.

The Italian previously worked alongside Guardiola at City during their Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign. He also revealed that he met his predecessor in Barcelona a day before formally signing as his replacement, describing the conversation as useful as he sought advice from a manager with 10 years of experience at the club.

Maresca has also moved into Pep Lijnders' former office, next to Guardiola's old workspace, which has since been converted into a meeting room.

"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," said Maresca.

"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." 

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