Overview
- Enzo Maresca returned to Manchester City this summer as head coach following Pep Guardiola’s exit and has begun work during the club’s Asia pre-season tour.
- Maresca says strong alignment among chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Hugo Viana made the job attractive and gives him a clear mandate to compete for trophies.
- He has already named parts of his backroom team, including goalkeeping coach Willy Caballero and first-team coach Danny Walker, and is settling routines after pre-season friendlies that included a shootout loss to Inter and wins over K‑League All‑Stars and Atlético Madrid.
- Immediate squad decisions include selecting a new captain after Bernardo Silva’s departure with Ruben Dias viewed as the frontrunner, and resolving Rodri’s uncertain situation as the club approaches the Community Shield and the Premier League opener.
- Tactically Maresca has made set pieces a priority, has studied artificial intelligence for training gains, and accepts early comparisons with Guardiola while promising to build on City’s established style.