Enzo Maresca knows that managing Manchester City comes with huge expectations. Almost a decade of success under Pep Guardiola has set a very high standard at the Etihad Stadium.
Maresca expected people to compare his results with Guardiola’s from the start. However, he says those comparisons do not put him under extra pressure.
The bigger challenge may come from the squad itself. Unlike Guardiola during his early years at City, Maresca cannot rely on another major transfer rebuild to fix every problem.
That could make his first seasons at the club even more demanding.
Maresca Accepts Comparisons With Pep Guardiola
Maresca understands why people compare him with Guardiola. The Spanish coach has changed Manchester City and influenced the way many teams play football.
Speaking to reporters in Seoul last summer, Maresca said he expected the comparisons to begin after the first 10 matches.
He explained that people would judge his team whether it collected 10, 20 or 30 points during that period.
Maresca also described Guardiola as the best manager in the world over the previous 15 to 20 years.
He believes Guardiola’s influence has reached far beyond Manchester.
“When he started his career in Spain, everyone wanted to play like Barcelona. When he moved to Germany, everyone wanted to play like Bayern Munich. Then, when he came to England, everyone wanted to play like Manchester City,” Maresca explained.
He also admitted that replacing Guardiola could prove almost impossible. Still, he described the opportunity as an honour.
For Maresca, the task is not about copying every part of Guardiola’s approach. He must build a team that can meet City’s high standards in its own way.
Maresca and Guardiola Had Similar Starts
The early results under Maresca show some similarities with Guardiola’s first season at Manchester City.
Guardiola won his first six league matches. However, City then went three games without a victory before returning to winning ways in their 10th match.
Maresca enjoyed an even stronger opening with seven consecutive wins. But his team then suffered three defeats in a row.
His points total also stood two points below Guardiola’s record at the same stage.
These numbers show how quickly a promising start can turn into a difficult period.
City have produced some impressive results under Maresca, including a big derby victory. However, their away performances have also raised concerns.
The recent defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground added to those questions.
Some observers now want to see whether Maresca’s playing style can deliver consistent results. More importantly, they want to know if City can challenge for the Premier League title.
Maresca Faces a Different Squad Situation
The biggest difference between Maresca and Guardiola may not involve tactics. It concerns the players available to them.
Guardiola spent heavily during his first year at Manchester City. But he also used that period to study the squad and decide which players suited his plans.
The club then made major changes during the summer of 2017.
City sold several players and brought in three important names:
- Bernardo Silva: Added creativity and technical quality to the midfield.
- Ederson: Strengthened the goalkeeping position.
- Kyle Walker: Improved the team’s options at right-back.
Those signings helped City build a stronger squad. They also played a major role in the club’s rise to the top of English football.
Maresca does not have the same freedom today. Manchester City have already completed major changes over the previous two years.
The club have moved on several players as part of their long-term plans. The supplied report names Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders among those departures.
As a result, Maresca must work with a squad that has already gone through a major transition.
Manchester City’s 2026 Transfers Raise Expectations
Manchester City also made several major signings during the 2026 transfer window.
The club brought in Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez in deals described as record-breaking transfers. They also signed Iliman Ndiaye and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
These arrivals form part of the club’s effort to build a new team under Maresca.
City appear to have already invested heavily in the current project. That could limit the chances of another major rebuild next summer.
The situation may remain the same even if the club receives a favourable outcome in its appeal over the 115 charges it faces.
Another large spending spree would not necessarily follow. Instead, the club may expect Maresca to get the best from the players already in the squad.
This creates a different challenge from the one Guardiola faced in 2017.
Maresca Must Find Solutions With His Current Players
Maresca now needs to improve the team without relying on another wave of expensive signings.
He must identify the right combinations, improve consistency and help new arrivals settle into the squad.
There have already been positive signs during his early months in charge. However, the recent defeats show that the team still has work to do.
The manager also needs to find answers to City’s away struggles. Strong performances at home will not be enough if the team wants to compete for major trophies.
His ability to develop the current squad could become one of the most important tests of his time at the Etihad.
A Different Road From Guardiola
Maresca inherited a club with a strong squad and high expectations. However, he cannot simply repeat Guardiola’s early transfer strategy.
Guardiola used the 2017 summer window to make major changes. Maresca must now focus on improving a squad that has already seen significant investment.
The comparison between the two managers will continue. That comes with the job at Manchester City.
But Maresca’s success may depend less on how closely he follows Guardiola and more on how well he uses the players at his disposal.
The next stage of his project will show whether he can turn City’s current squad into a consistent title contender without another major rebuild.
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