Manchester City: Omar Marmoush has not asked to leave as Jeremy Doku faces three-week absence

Enzo Maresca says Omar Marmoush has not asked to leave Manchester City, while Jeremy Doku is expected to miss between two and three weeks with a calf injury.

Manchester City are preparing to host Bournemouth on Sunday in the opening round of the Premier League, with Maresca beginning a new chapter as the club’s head coach.

Asked about Marmoush’s future, Maresca said: “I don’t know anything. Omar is still here, he is with us. He is different from Savinho, so we will see what happens. It is always complicated when a player leaves, because someone else has to come in to replace him. We will see whether Omar stays or what happens. If someone leaves, another player has to come in.”

He added: “Savinho asked to leave from the first day, but Marmoush did not ask to leave.”

Maresca also confirmed that Doku will be unavailable for the meeting with Bournemouth after suffering a calf problem in Manchester City’s most recent match against Arsenal.

“Doku will miss the Bournemouth game because of injury,” he said. “In the last match against Arsenal, he complained of some pain in his calf at half-time. We did not want him to play more than 45 minutes, so the substitution was planned.”

The Italian manager said the Belgium international’s absence should not extend beyond three weeks.

“At the moment, it looks like he will be out for between two and three weeks, and no more than that,” Maresca said.

Maresca expressed his enthusiasm about the campaign ahead and said Manchester City’s aim was to continue the standards established by the club over the past decade.

“I am very excited about the season ahead, and we want to continue maintaining the level that the club has shown during the last 10 or 15 years,” he said.

Maresca has been studying Bournemouth closely ahead of Sunday’s fixture, including one of their pre-season matches and several games from last season.

“I watched one of their matches during pre-season, and I also watched some of their matches last season,” he said.

He believes Bournemouth’s identity remains clear under Andoni Iraola.

“You can clearly see their identity. They are a team that relies on a very intense style and pressing. They were already like that with Andoni Iraola, and they remain the same way,” Maresca said.

“I am very excited to start this new chapter and this new journey. Our aim is to continue working in the same way that the club has operated during the last 10 to 15 years, so we are very happy finally to play our first match at home.”

Manchester City finished last season second in the Premier League, seven points behind champions Arsenal.

The club begin the new campaign under the management of Maresca, who has succeeded Pep Guardiola.