How Maresca's Man City Are Shaping Up Compared with Guardiola

Enzo Maresca faces the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. BBC Sport analyzes the new manager's style and tactics from pre-season games so far.

When Enzo Maresca took over Manchester City in the summer of 2024, he knew he was inheriting a dynasty built by Pep Guardiola. In nine years at the Etihad, Guardiola delivered numerous trophies, including multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League, embedding his possession-based philosophy into the club's DNA. Maresca's task is not to tear down but to build upon, injecting his own ideas—a formidable challenge. Pre-season matches offer a window into the new manager's tactical intentions. In the friendlies played so far, Maresca's City have shown similar high possession stats to Guardiola's era, but with subtle differences. He tends to use a double pivot in midfield, emphasizing compactness and quick ball circulation, contrasting with Guardiola's typical single pivot and false nine. Maresca successfully employed a 4-3-3 at Leicester City, and he is trying to replicate that at City, though the squad's composition requires adjustments. In attack, Maresca encourages wingers to cut inside while full-backs provide width, a departure from Guardiola's 'inverted full-back' tactic. Guardiola often had Cancelo or Walker tuck into midfield to create numerical superiority, whereas Maresca leans toward traditional wide play, using pace and skill to break down defenses. This shift was evident in pre-season, with new signings like Doku and Grealish lively on the flanks, hinting at a more direct attacking approach. Defensively, Maresca emphasizes high pressing and a high defensive line, aligning with Guardiola's philosophy, but he places more emphasis on midfield interceptions and immediate counter-pressing. In pre-season, midfielders like Rodri and Kovacic have been given more defensive duties, covering larger areas to compensate for full-backs pushing forward. This demands high fitness and tactical discipline, which Maresca is gradually instilling. In terms of player usage, Maresca shows different preferences from Guardiola. He trusts young players more, giving Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb increased minutes. His treatment of veterans has also sparked speculation, such as whether De Bruyne's role will be diminished. Maresca has tried Foden in a more central role in pre-season, possibly signaling that the team's future attacking organization will revolve around the Englishman. However, Maresca's changes are not without hiccups. In pre-season, City struggled to play out from the back against high-pressing opponents, due to the unsettled positioning of midfielders. Additionally, the new tactics demand more from full-backs, and whether current players like Walker and Gomez can adapt remains to be seen. Maresca has stressed in interviews that he needs time for players to understand his ideas, admitting 'it won't happen overnight.' From a broader perspective, Maresca's coaching style differs fundamentally from Guardiola's. Guardiola is a control freak, seeking absolute dominance, while Maresca focuses on transition efficiency and directness. This difference may stem from his apprenticeship under Guardiola and his independent stint at Leicester, where he built a possession-based but fast-breaking style, now brought to City. Looking ahead, City's goals remain the Premier League title and Champions League glory. Whether Maresca's tactical tweaks will work in the competitive Premier League is uncertain. But what is certain is that he is striving to create a team that retains City's tradition while bearing his personal stamp. Fans are eager to see a more dynamic, direct City, and Maresca's pre-season has offered hope. The upcoming season will be the true test of his mettle.

How Maresca's Man City Are Shaping Up Compared with Guardiola

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