"Probably the reason why I'm here is also because the idea from the Club is to maintain the same style of football, the same idea and we're going to try to do the most important thing in football which is try to win, to achieve important things," Enzo Maresca told independent.co.uk. That is a pretty blunt opening pitch at Manchester City: no grand reset, no public break from Pep Guardiola, and no attempt to pretend he is taking over a broken side.

Maresca has signed a three-year deal at City, and his first comments suggest he understands the job properly. This squad finished second in the Premier League on 78 points, scored 77 goals and conceded 35. The sensible move is to preserve the level that is already there and sharpen it, not tear through it for the sake of looking new.

The message City wanted to hear

Maresca's language has been very deliberate. He told manchestereveningnews.co.uk: "The idea is to continue as much as we can to dominate games, to play in the opposite side, be aggressive off the ball and with intention on the ball".

That lines up with the reality of the squad he is inheriting. He has worked with chief executive Ferran Soriano before and knows players including Rodri, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake. He also said: "I know most of the people in terms of squad, in terms of players I probably will find four or five players from the season the last time I was here".

That familiarity is not a minor detail. For a club trying to avoid a messy handover after Guardiola, it is one of the clearest reasons to choose him. Maresca is not walking into an unfamiliar dressing room and trying to impose a foreign idea. He is stepping into a group that already understands the core demands, which should make the transition smoother even if results still need lifting.

Pep Guardiola himself had already framed the challenge in a more realistic way. Speaking to independent.co.uk, he said: "His successor's role is not copy-paste". That feels right. City clearly want continuity, but continuity does not mean imitation. Maresca is being asked to protect the structure while making enough of it his own to keep the team moving.

The Chelsea backdrop

There is still an awkward layer behind the appointment, and City cannot present this as a perfectly clean succession story. Chelsea and City reached a mutually agreed settlement under which Chelsea will receive compensation, but the reporting on the figure is not consistent.

Football Italia said the compensation package was €20m. The Independent reported a £17m fee. Both cannot be treated as the same number, so this remains a disputed part of the move.

The timeline is also not settled. Football Italia reported that confidential conversations between City and Maresca took place in autumn and winter 2025 while he was still Chelsea head coach. That sits uneasily alongside the tidier version of events around Guardiola's exit and succession planning.

The scale of the job

The club Maresca is taking over still carries elite expectations. Manchester City were second in the league on 78 points last season and also sit eighth in the Champions League standings with 16 points from eight games. This is not an appointment made for a long, forgiving rebuild.

That is why his emphasis on continuity makes sense, and probably why it was the safest message for him to lead with. He knows the club, knows key players, and knows that winning is still the line he will be judged on. S. Guardiola may appear in the club's player pool, but the real reference point is still Pep Guardiola's team and the standard it left behind.

For now, Maresca has chosen the smart opening. Keep the style, keep the principles, and try to improve a side that already scored 77 league goals and conceded 35.

FAQ

What has Enzo Maresca said about Manchester City's style after Pep Guardiola?

Enzo Maresca has made continuity his first message. He said the club's idea is to maintain the same style and the same footballing principles, while still focusing on winning. He also said he wants City to keep dominating games, play high in the opposition half, be aggressive off the ball and show intention on it.

Why do Manchester City think Enzo Maresca can make a smooth start?

A big part of the case for Maresca is familiarity. He has signed a three-year deal and already knows chief executive Ferran Soriano. He also knows players including Rodri, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Nathan Ake, and said he will probably find four or five players from the last time he was at the club.

Is Enzo Maresca expected to rebuild Manchester City from scratch?

No. The early message is the opposite. City finished second in the Premier League with 78 points, scored 77 goals and conceded 35, so this is not a rebuild job in the usual sense. Maresca is taking over a side with strong foundations and is talking about preserving what already works rather than starting again.

What is the dispute over Chelsea compensation for Enzo Maresca?

There is agreement that Manchester City and Chelsea reached a settlement and Chelsea will receive compensation, but the reporting differs on the figure. Football Italia said the package was €20m, while The Independent reported a £17m fee. Football Italia also reported talks took place in autumn and winter 2025 while Maresca was still Chelsea head coach.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →