"Enzo is very known to us and we've always been, I would say, very, very attracted by his football, by his mind, by his humanity." That was Khaldoon Al Mubarak's explanation as Manchester City confirmed Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor. City are clearly framing the move as a homecoming. The problem for them is that Chelsea have already made sure it does not look like a clean break.
City’s case for Maresca
Khaldoon Al Mubarak's argument is straightforward enough because the club do not have to invent a connection here. Maresca already worked at City as Guardiola's assistant during the 2022-23 treble-winning season, so the people making this call know him from inside the building.
That is why the chairman's language was so emphatic. Speaking to independent.co.uk, he said: "Enzo is very known to us and we've always been, I would say, very, very attracted by his football, by his mind, by his humanity. He is someone that has been part of this club, part of the success of the club, someone we all know very, very well."
The second part of City's pitch is about continuity. Al Mubarak told independent.co.uk: "I think Enzo is an excellent fit for the team. The players know him very well – many of them. He knows every aspect of the club, so the transition will be smooth. And more importantly, his football – his brand of football is not too different from the football we play."
That reads like a club trying to reduce the usual uncertainty that comes with replacing Guardiola. City are not handing Maresca a rebuild. They finished second in the Premier League with 78 points and a goal difference of 42, so the base is still strong even if there is obvious pressure attached to taking over this squad.
Al Mubarak did not downplay that pressure either. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said: "This is a big challenge – this scares off many people. The beauty with Enzo is he actually wants that challenge; he loves that challenge."
That line matters because City are selling more than familiarity. They are also selling temperament. Replacing Guardiola is not the sort of job you give to someone you think needs a gentle landing.
Chelsea’s public response
This is where the move stops looking like a standard succession plan. Enzo's return to City has been backed hard by the chairman, but Chelsea's statement gave the story a very different tone.
Chelsea said a major contributing factor in their disappointing 2025/26 season was disruption caused by changes to the head coach position over the Christmas period. They said Maresca left on 1 January 2026 after informing them in autumn that he might have an opportunity to succeed Pep Guardiola.
Maresca also acknowledged the damage himself. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish."
That apology does not soften the substance of Chelsea's complaint. The club also said a confidential settlement was reached with Manchester City and that the former head coach will also pay compensation. Some reports have put the overall settlement at around £17 million, others around €20 million, which is close enough to show the scale but not precise enough to settle on one figure.
Chelsea's anger is easier to understand when you look at the fallout they described. The club were 10th in the Premier League after Maresca's departure, and their statement tied that decline directly to the disruption caused by the coaching change.
The record City are buying into
City are not only relying on old memories from his assistant days. They can point to a decent recent record, even if the Chelsea ending has turned sour.
At Leicester, Maresca won 31 of 46 league games and finished on 97 points, one ahead of Ipswich. That is strong evidence that he can impose a clear idea over a full campaign rather than simply oversee a short bounce.
His Chelsea spell was productive too before it became messy. He won 55 of 92 matches there, with his teams scoring 191 goals and conceding 98. Chelsea also finished fourth under him, which is the clearest hard result from that period.
So City are making a bet that feels logical on the football side and awkward on the political side. They have chosen someone who knows the club, knows many of the players and has already shown he can win in his own right. What they have not got is a tidy handover, because Chelsea have put the disruption, the departure date and the compensation row on the record.
That leaves Maresca starting again at Manchester City with full backing from the chairman and a very public grievance from his former club still hanging over the appointment.
FAQ
Why did Manchester City choose Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor?
Khaldoon Al Mubarak said City were attracted by Maresca's football, his mind and his humanity. He also said Maresca knows every aspect of the club, is familiar with many of the players and shares a similar footballing style, which is why City expect a smooth transition.
Why are Chelsea angry about Enzo Maresca leaving for Manchester City?
Chelsea said his departure in the middle of the season caused disruption and was a major contributing factor in their disappointing 2025/26 campaign. The club said Maresca left on 1 January 2026 after telling them in autumn he might get the chance to replace Pep Guardiola.
Did Chelsea receive compensation from Manchester City for Enzo Maresca?
Chelsea said a confidential settlement was reached with Manchester City and that Maresca will also pay compensation. Reports have described the figure differently, with one using around £17 million and another around €20 million, so the exact number is still not settled publicly.
What is Enzo Maresca's record before returning to Manchester City?
Maresca was Guardiola's assistant during City's 2022-23 treble-winning season. He then won 31 of 46 league games and collected 97 points at Leicester, and later won 55 of 92 matches at Chelsea, where his teams scored 191 goals and conceded 98.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
