New Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that following in the footsteps of Pep Guardiola is a huge challenge but described the opportunity as a “privilege” as he begins his new era at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking during his first press conference as City manager on Friday, the Italian coach paid tribute to Guardiola’s impact while acknowledging the scale of the task ahead.
“First of all, I have to say that it’s a privilege. I’ve said many times that I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20, 25 years. But again, it’s a challenge. It’s nice. It’s a privilege,” Maresca said.
Replacing a manager who has delivered unprecedented success is considered one of football’s toughest challenges. Several elite clubs have struggled after losing iconic managers, including Manchester United following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
However, Maresca believes Manchester City’s organisation and long-term planning give him confidence that the club can continue competing at the highest level.
“I think the organisation is the main thing. They had three managers in 17 years. This is not normal, it doesn’t happen often. So this is probably one of the things that I’m confident that we can do a great job,” he explained.
Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2016 and transformed the club into a global football powerhouse, winning multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and the UEFA Champions League.
Maresca’s first major task will be ensuring City remain competitive in the Premier League while adapting the squad to his own ideas.