Maresca’s First Press Conference
Enzo Maresca held his initial news conference as Manchester City manager, acknowledging the challenge of succeeding Pep Guardiola. He paid tribute to former City manager Kevin Keegan, who passed away earlier in the week, sending a message to Keegan’s family. Maresca noted that the history of managers with long tenures at the same club often presents a unique challenge for their successors, referencing figures like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger.
Maresca also reflected on the club’s stability, highlighting that Manchester City has had three managers over 17 years. He expressed confidence in his ability to continue the work established in previous years by managers such as Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and Guardiola. Maresca’s prior experience with City includes leading the elite development squad and serving as an assistant manager during a treble-winning season.
During the conference, Maresca was asked about his departure from Chelsea. He stated he had “nothing to add” on the matter, though reports indicated Chelsea felt “let down” by his exit. Maresca mentioned his positive experiences at previous clubs, including Leicester and Chelsea, where he felt a clear team identity and success were achieved.
Player Updates and Transfer Speculation
Regarding player futures, Maresca provided an update on Rodri, who has been linked with a move from the Etihad Stadium. Rodri is scheduled to undergo surgery for a back problem next week and is expected to return to the team after his recovery. Rodri recently lifted the World Cup for Spain. The manager did not offer significant details on the futures of Jack Grealish and James Trafford, despite questions about their situations.
There is also interest in Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, who played for Morocco at the World Cup, to further strengthen the midfield. Additionally, Maresca retains an interest in Malo Gusto, a right-back he previously worked with at Chelsea. If Omar Marmoush departs, the club may seek a similar forward in the transfer market.
Real Madrid has been mentioned in connection with Rodri, who has one year remaining on his current contract and has reportedly declined a new deal offered by Manchester City. Rodri is expected to miss the opening weekend of the season when City hosts Bournemouth.
Pre-Season and Upcoming Events
Maresca is scheduled to travel for a pre-season tour of Asia, which includes matches against Inter in Hong Kong, and against K-League All Stars and Atlético Madrid in Seoul. Key players who exited the World Cup early, such as Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Abdukodir Khusanov, will join the tour.
The manager noted he is currently working with many young players, describing them as full of energy and talented. The remaining squad members are expected to join the team a few days before the Community Shield. The bid to succeed Guardiola will commence after a game with Arsenal. Maresca also mentioned the need for adaptation and evolution in playing style, including set pieces and man-to-man marking, as football continues to develop.
Manchester City is also preparing for a “City Are Back” event, presented by Etihad Airways, which will allow fans to engage with the team before Maresca’s first season. This event offers supporters the chance to see new signings, hear from the new manager and recruits, and interact with familiar faces. The event will feature live entertainment, music, and a Kids Fanzone with football skills challenges. Exclusive prizes, such as a signed shirt and hospitality tickets, will be available. Fans will also have the opportunity to take photos with last season’s domestic double trophies, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Tickets for the event are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for Under 21s and Over 65s, with hospitality packages also available. Two tickets are available per supporter. Tickets will go on sale to Season Ticket Members for either of the First Teams, as well as all Cityzens Official Members, on Tuesday. Subject to availability, tickets will go on general sale on Wednesday. The “City Are Back” gates at the Joie Stadium will open at 13:30 (UK), with the event starting at 14:00 (UK). For those unable to attend, the event will be live-streamed across the club’s channels.
General admission tickets for Manchester City’s home 2026/27 Premier League fixtures are now on sale to Premium, Matchday, and Junior Members. Season Ticket Members can also purchase additional tickets for selected games. Premier League match-by-match ticket prices for junior and adult Matchday Members have been maintained at the same rate for a third consecutive season.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”