Enzo Maresca vows to build on Guardiola era at Manchester City as he dismisses Rodri exit talk and ignores Chelsea statement row

Enzo Maresca has insisted Rodri remains central to his plans at Manchester City and refused to be drawn into controversy over a Chelsea statement, as he set out his vision in his first press conference as City head coach.

The Italian was speaking publicly for the first time since being appointed as Pep Guardiola’s successor, outlining his football philosophy, transfer plans and approach to some of the club’s key players.

Maresca, 44, arrives at Etihad Stadium after a highly successful spell in English football. He led Leicester City to the 2023-24 Championship title, then went on to win the UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea between 2024 and 2025.

This is his third stint with City, having previously coached the club’s elite development squad and served on Guardiola’s backroom staff during the 2022-23 season.

‘It feels like coming home’

Maresca opened his media briefing with a personal message, offering condolences to the family of former England and Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan.

“Before we start, I would like to send a message and a big hug to Kevin Keegan’s family at this moment,” he said. “I feel like I am back home. I have felt fantastic from the first day and I am very happy to be here.”

He stressed that his familiarity with the club’s structure was a decisive factor in accepting the job.

“I know the organisation very well and I have known the people inside the club for years,” he said. “The stability here, with only three managers in almost 20 years, shows the strength of the structure and the belief in giving time to projects. Once Manchester City contacted me, I had no doubts about taking this challenge.”

Following Guardiola ‘a huge privilege’ – and a major test

Maresca acknowledged that succeeding Guardiola, who delivered an unprecedented era of success, is one of the most daunting roles in modern football.

“First of all, it is a huge privilege to be chosen by this club,” he said. “I have said many times that Pep has probably been the best coach in the world over the last 20 or 25 years. At the same time, it is a fantastic challenge.”

He drew parallels with other long-serving managerial figures in English football.

“If you look at the history of managers who stayed a long time at a club, like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, they all left behind big challenges,” he continued. “My target now is to do things right from the beginning for the club and the fans.”

Maresca believes City’s leadership gives him confidence that the transition can be managed smoothly.

“The club structure is the key factor,” he said. “This club has had only three managers in about 17 years, which is very rare. That gives me confidence that we can continue the path that started with Roberto Mancini, then Manuel Pellegrini, and finally Pep Guardiola.”

Rodri speculation ‘normal’ – but midfielder stays part of plans

Rodri’s future has been the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks, but Maresca said he is not alarmed by the rumours and fully expects to work with the Spain midfielder once he recovers from minor surgery.

“Top players always have rumours around them, that is normal, especially after he won the World Cup and performed at such a high level,” Maresca said. “Any manager in the world would like to have Rodri.

“But he is having surgery on Monday, he needs rest and recovery, and then he will come back to us.”

Maresca sidesteps Chelsea statement row

Maresca was also asked about the statement Chelsea issued following his departure from Stamford Bridge but declined to engage in any dispute with his former club.

“I feel lucky to have worked at Leicester and Chelsea,” he said. “We had success and a clear identity at both clubs, and I am grateful for those experiences.

“But now my focus is completely on Manchester City and I have nothing more to add.”

Transfers and pre-season plans

On the summer transfer window, Maresca suggested City are still active but will be led by market conditions.

“I think there is always something you can do because we are trying to reach certain targets,” he said. “But it also depends on the dynamics of the transfer market. There are probably some things that still need to be done and we are already working on them.”

He confirmed that the last group of players will not report back until shortly before the season’s traditional curtain-raiser.

“The final group of players will join three or four days before the Community Shield,” he said. “After that, we will have the full squad.”

Until then, he is working extensively with younger members of the squad.

“I am with many young players at the moment,” he added. “They have a lot of energy and some of them are showing very high levels. I am happy with what I am seeing.”

Grealish and Trafford futures addressed

Maresca underlined that Jack Grealish remains part of his squad, while leaving the door open to possible changes later in the window.

“Jack is here and he is a Manchester City player,” he said. “My position is always clear: as long as a player belongs to the club, it is my duty to work with him.

“I have a good relationship with him because he has a big heart and a great personality. We will see what happens in the future.”

He also spoke about goalkeeper James Trafford, whom he previously coached in City’s youth ranks.

“I know James very well – he was my goalkeeper when I was in charge of the Under-23s,” Maresca said. “The transfer window is open and anything can happen, we will see. But at the moment he is one of our goalkeepers.”

Tactical identity and evolving football

Maresca said his core footballing identity will remain consistent with what he implemented at Leicester City and Chelsea, and that this alignment with City’s recent style was part of why he was hired.

“I had a clear identity at Leicester and Chelsea, and probably that was one of the reasons Manchester City chose me, because some of the ideas are similar to what the previous manager did,” he said.

“We always try to press aggressively when we lose the ball, control the game and impose our style, while aiming for the most important thing in football – winning matches.”

He added that the constantly evolving nature of the game demands ongoing tactical innovation.

“Everything changes with time and you must adapt,” Maresca said. “There is development in playing styles, set-pieces and man-to-man defending. It is our job as coaches to find the right solutions.”

The Italian also acknowledged that City may mix up their approach at times, including using more direct passes when required, particularly given the profiles available to him.

“It can be one of the solutions,” he said when asked about long balls. “Sometimes you need short build-up, sometimes you need long balls, depending on the opponent.

“Having a goalkeeper like Gianluigi Donnarumma and a striker like Erling Haaland gives us a big advantage, but it will not be the only solution. We have to find different options to suit different games.”