Why does Man City trust Enzo Maresca?

After nearly a decade of dominating English football, Pep Guardiola's era at Man City has come to an end. The biggest challenge for City now is finding the right person to continue the system Guardiola built.

In that context, City's choice of Enzo Maresca is neither an emotional nor a temporary decision.

The choice of continuity and stability

For many years, Man City has been preparing for the post-Guardiola era. They understand there will be no "second Pep," so the key is not to find a coach who completely copies the Spanish tactician's style, but someone who understands the system well enough to maintain the standards already established.

Maresca fits that vision better than any other candidate. He previously managed Man City's youth team, then served as Guardiola's direct assistant during the historic treble-winning 2022/23 season. This allowed Maresca to grasp almost the entire operational structure at the Etihad, from training philosophy and tactical organization to the governance model of the City Football Group.

More importantly, Maresca is not solely influenced by Guardiola. He has also learned a great deal from Manuel Pellegrini, who won the Premier League with Man City before Guardiola took over. That is why City is willing to place their trust in a coach without a remarkably outstanding track record yet.

Maresca's managerial career so far cannot compare with names like Xabi Alonso or Mikel Arteta. However, what Man City values is not just the number of trophies. They highly rate Maresca's ability to build a tactical system. Chelsea under the Italian coach was once criticized for slow ball progression and being overly possession-oriented, but seen from another angle, it was a team with a clear structure and good organization. Notably, Maresca has shown enough flexibility to adapt when needed.

The victory over PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final is the clearest proof. Instead of trying to fully control the game, Maresca's Chelsea actively exploited spaces behind PSG's defense with long passes.

That detail is important for Man City. In their final season under Guardiola, the team also began shifting toward a more direct style rather than absolute control as before. Additionally, having managed in a high-pressure environment at Chelsea helped Maresca gain experience in handling dressing room dynamics and media relations. Although his time at Stamford Bridge ended unpleasantly, he is still highly regarded for his ability to build relationships with players.

How will Man City play under Maresca?

One of the biggest reasons Man City trusts Maresca is that he does not need to carry out a complete overhaul.

Basically, the Italian coach will likely still use the familiar 4-3-3 system. However, when in possession, the formation will shift to a 3-2-2-3 structure, a mode of operation closely associated with Guardiola's most successful period at the Etihad.

In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma is almost certain to be the first choice. Although not outstanding in ball-playing ability, the Italian goalkeeper possesses reflexes and shot-stopping capabilities among the best in Europe. This also indicates that Man City may continue to lean toward a more direct style rather than relying entirely on building from the back.

The defense is expected to see significant changes. Tino Livramento (Newcastle) is considered a suitable target for the right-back position due to his speed and attacking support. In the center of defense, Abdukodir Khusanov is likely to become a key figure thanks to his tackling and covering abilities. Partnering him could be Josko Gvardiol, considered the most well-rounded among City's current center-backs.

On the left flank, Nico O'Reilly is set to play a particularly important role. Originally a midfielder, O'Reilly fits the inverted full-back role that Maresca favors, helping the team maintain numbers in midfield during possession.

The midfield still revolves around Rodri. If the Spanish midfielder remains at the Etihad, he will be the centerpiece of all Maresca's tactical ideas. Playing alongside Rodri could be Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), an energetic midfielder with good pressing and box-crashing abilities.

Up front, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo are expected to bring speed and creativity on the flanks. Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki will take on the free No. 10 role behind Erling Haaland. This could be the biggest difference between Maresca and Guardiola's final version at City. While Guardiola tried to turn Haaland into a part of the possession system, Maresca will likely exploit the Norwegian striker's goal-scoring ability more directly. His Chelsea previously lacked a top-class center-forward like Haaland, so with a suitable player in hand, the Italian coach can build a more pragmatic and effective approach.