Coach Enzo Maresca is entering the biggest challenge of his career when taking over Manchester City after Pep Guardiola's glorious era.
After 10 years leading the Etihad team, Guardiola brought home 20 titles, including three consecutive Premier League titles, the Champions League and a series of domestic cups, setting almost unimaginable standards for his successor.
Maresca is not a strange name to Man City. He was Guardiola's assistant in the historic 2022-2023 season, when the team won the treble. Previously, the Italian strategist helped Man City U23 win the Premier League 2 seasons 2020-2021, then brought Leicester City back to the Premier League and together with Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League as well as the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
However, experience alone is not enough. What Maresca needs to do is to create his own mark instead of just being seen as a "Guerdigola version". That will be the first and also the most important challenge.
Besides the tactical problem, Maresca also has to solve Rodri's future. The Spanish midfielder still has a contract until 2027, but recent statements show that he has not fully committed to long-term attachment to Man City.
After a long period of absence due to a knee injury, Rodri is trying to regain the form that helped him win the 2024 Ballon d'Or. In case the 29-year-old player decides to leave, Man City has prepared a replacement plan with Elliot Anderson.
The midfielder of Nottingham Forest is considered one of the top targets of the Etihad Stadium team after an impressive performance at both club and England national team levels at the 2026 World Cup.
Last season, The Citizens finished the Premier League as runners-up, 7 points behind Arsenal. That gap is not too large but it is enough to show that the team needs a reform to regain its dominant position.
Maresca's immediate goal is to narrow the gap with Arsenal and maintain the ability to compete for the championship until the final rounds. If the start is not as desired, the Italian strategist can completely face the same pressure as David Moyes when succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Another important factor is the support from the leadership. President Khaldoon Al Mubarak always emphasized that no individual is greater than Man City. However, in the transition period after Guardiola, trust and patience for Maresca will play a decisive role.
CEO Ferran Soriano and Sporting Director Hugo Viana will also have to coordinate closely to build a force suitable for the new coach's philosophy. Only when the leadership, players and coaching staff are united can Man City successfully overcome the post-Guilario period.
In addition, Maresca also needs to find a solution to the dependence on Erling Haaland. Since joining Man City in 2022, the Norwegian striker has always been the center of Guardiola's tactical system and contributed greatly to the team's series of titles.
Every time Haaland is injured or loses form, Man City often has difficulty scoring goals. The only season the team has been empty-handed since Haaland arrived at Etihad was also a campaign where he could not maintain his explosive scoring performance as before.
Therefore, building a more diverse attacking system, reducing dependence on Haaland and creating a unique identity will be important tasks if Maresca wants to open a new era of success for Man City.
