How Maresca's Man City are shaping up compared with Guardiola side – Enzo Maresca steps into Pep Guardiola’s shoes at Manchester City, with pre‑season friendlies already revealing tactical tweaks. The new boss’s approach matters for a club that has dominated English football for the past decade, and fans are keen to see whether the “Pep‑style” will evolve or dissolve under his guidance.

Key takeaways

  • Maresca retains City’s high‑pressing ethos while experimenting with a deeper midfield pivot.
  • Defensive shape is tighter, with full‑backs given more disciplined positional cues.
  • Attacking transitions emphasize quick, vertical passes rather than prolonged possession.
  • Early results suggest a smoother adaptation than many pundits predicted.

Background

Manchester City concluded the 2023‑24 season with a domestic treble, and Pep Guardiola announced his departure in late May 2024. The club appointed former Liverpool assistant Enzo Maresma, a former City player turned manager, to lead the squad into the 2024‑25 campaign. His appointment was confirmed on 7 July 2024, sparking a wave of analysis across the sports community.

What happened

During the three pre‑season fixtures – a 3‑0 win over Girona, a 2‑1 victory against Arsenal, and a 1‑1 draw with Real Madrid – Maresca introduced a 4‑2‑3‑1 formation that swapped the traditional inverted wingers for more traditional wide forwards. The midfield pivot now features a deep‑lying playmaker paired with a box‑to‑box runner, a departure from Guardiola’s double‑pivot that relied heavily on Rodri’s ball‑distribution.

Maresca also instructed the full‑backs to stay compact in the final third, limiting the overlapping runs that were a hallmark of the Pep era. This change was evident against Arsenal, where João Cancelo and Reece James combined to keep a narrower defensive band while still providing width through overlapping wing‑backs when the team transitioned forward.

The tactical shift was highlighted in a BBC Sport analysis, which noted that “City’s pressing remains aggressive, but the positional discipline has improved, reducing the space opponents find between the lines.”[^1]

Why it matters

City’s identity under Guardiola was built on relentless possession and positional fluidity, but that approach also demanded extreme physical and mental stamina. By tightening the defensive shape, Maresca aims to mitigate fatigue across a congested fixture list that includes a Champions League group stage and a domestic cup run.

For fans, the changes could signal a more pragmatic era, where results are prioritized over aesthetic dominance. The shift also has implications for the transfer market: a deeper midfield may attract players adept at ball recovery, while the reduced reliance on wing‑backs could affect the valuation of full‑backs in the upcoming window.

What happens next

The Premier League season kicks off on 12 August 2024, giving Maresca a narrow window to cement his ideas before competitive pressure mounts. Upcoming fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham will test the new defensive discipline, while a Champions League group match against Inter Milan will gauge whether the quicker vertical transitions can break down elite European defenses.

City’s performance will also be scrutinized by rival managers and the broader football press, especially after recent headlines such as 'Unprecedented' rains in Japan kill six people and Rising golf star, 18, dies after brain haemorrhage, which remind readers that sport does not exist in a vacuum.

For ongoing coverage, readers can follow updates on the club’s official site or check the latest stories on Chronicle News.

Frequently asked questions

How many matches has Maresca overseen so far?

As of early July, Maresca has managed three pre‑season games, all of which ended in either a win or a draw.

Will City’s style become more defensive under Maresca?

The new manager has tightened the defensive line but still emphasizes a high press; the balance leans toward pragmatic solidity rather than outright defensiveness.

What are the key players likely to thrive in Maresca’s system?

Midfielders with strong tackling and passing range, such as Mateo Kovacic, and versatile forwards who can exploit quick vertical passes, like Erling Haaland, are expected to flourish.

Bottom line

Enzo Maresca’s early experiments suggest a City side that preserves its pressing intensity while adding defensive discipline. The true test will arrive when the Premier League season begins in August, and the world will be watching.

Reporting by BBC Sport.

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