Taking the reins at Manchester City immediately after the legendary Pep Guardiola seemed akin to a suicide mission. Few roles in world football are as thankless as attempting to replace a manager who has secured six Premier League titles and a treble in just a decade. Yet, Enzo Maresca’s early weeks in charge have made this colossal task appear deceptively straightforward.
With four wins from four opening matches, the Citizens surged to the top of the table alongside Arsenal. Last Sunday, the 46-year-old Italian achieved a defining triumph in his new role, clinching a gritty 1-0 victory at Old Trafford despite going down to ten men due to Phil Foden’s early dismissal. The players mirrored Maresca’s composed demeanour on the pitch: absolute calm, steely resolve, and a complete absence of panic. It was this icy composure that left fans thoroughly impressed.
Lessons from the past, tactical maturity, and club ethos on the training ground
Having faced a similar nightmare a year ago, the Italian tactician knows exactly what can go wrong. In September 2025, whilst at Chelsea, he experienced chaos at Old Trafford when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off just five minutes into the match. Panicking, he made two frantic substitutions within the first seven minutes and switched to a five-defender formation, ultimately failing to secure a result.
This time around, Maresca showcased a complete transformation. No impulsive reactions; he calmly assessed the game’s dynamics, shifted Ryan Cherki to the flank, and brought on Iliman Ndiaye at half-time. This deft tactical move turned the game in City’s favour, allowing them to snatch victory.
After the match, Maresca cheekily joked with the press about Erling Haaland’s winning goal:
How do they say it in English? Happy wife, happy life. For us, the formula is different: happy Erling, happy life.
Such genuine light-heartedness starkly contrasts with Guardiola's often glum press conference presence, where he frequently appeared to be dreaming of anywhere but at the mic. When Pep’s departure became inevitable last May, he offered a simple piece of wisdom to his successor: 'Be yourself.' And now, Maresca is methodically emerging from his mentor's shadow.
While Pep was animated on the sidelines, jumping and shouting at reserve officials, Enzo stands motionless for hours at the edge of the technical area, arms crossed. Meanwhile, the Club's training ground is now bursting with energetic house music, as Maresca himself jokes he’s determined to make training enjoyable and spirited.
New captain Ruben Dias confirms that Maresca isn’t tearing down the club's golden legacy for the sake of mere self-affirmation:
Of course, much has changed — from the atmosphere in training to subtleties in counter-pressing and defensive work. These are Enzo’s ideas. There are changes, but the key principles of how we play remain steadfast. We have retained the same mental foundation that has always been our club’s hallmark.
Ghost of Moyes unfrightening: five wins in a row and a trophy chase
Maresca's appointment inevitably led to sceptical comparisons with the traumatic experience David Moyes had when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. At his first press conference, Enzo himself invoked cases of Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, wisely noting that grand clubs often face turmoil after the departure of monumental figures.
The season began with a slap in the face — a crushing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield. Yet, rather than break down, the team rallied to deliver five consecutive wins across all competitions, including a challenging away victory at Porto in the Champions League. While Moyes buckled under pressure in ten months, Maresca is openly relishing the trust placed in him.
Constant comparisons to Guardiola? They don’t pressure me one bit,
the Italian stated back at pre-season training.
The City hierarchy never contemplated other candidates; Enzo was the only name on the shortlist. Following intense summer squad reshuffling, the revitalised team begins its defence of the League Cup against Norwich at the Etihad, before hosting a stubborn Sunderland.
Already, Enzo Maresca has outplayed foes on hostile territory with ten men. Should the Italian claim victory in the next two fixtures, his debut in the ‘most impossible role in world football’ will be unequivocally triumphant.
