London [UK], August 22 : The newly appointed Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said that during his third run with the club, the key challenge is to keep their winning run going and maintain the high standards set over the last decade.
After losing the FA Community Shield to Arsenal, Manchester City will start a new era under Enzo, with their Premier League campaign starting at home against Bournemouth from Sunday onwards. In the previous season, Man City finished second in the Premier League, while winning the EFL Cup and the FA Cup. In the UEFA Champions League, they could only make it to the round of 16.
Enzo will have massive shoes to fill, as after a decade-long reign of massive success, legendary manager Pep Guardiola departed from the club ahead of the season.
Guardiola, who came to City back in 2016, departed after transforming the English club into a European football giant, having won six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League, three FA Cup titles, 5 League Cup titles, a FIFA Club World Cup title, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield each. He was also in charge of the historic 2022-23 treble-winning season, where the club won the Premier League, FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking on JioStar, Enzo, having previously served as an assistant to Pep, said that he hopes he does not have to leave the club anymore and he is excited for the "ambitious" project he has with the club ahead.
"This is the third time I am here at Manchester City. Hopefully, it is the last time I come back, and I do not leave anymore. I am very excited for many reasons, and the biggest one is the size of the club. That has always been a big factor for me. The project here is ambitious, and I feel this is the right moment to be part of it. I know the club well, and I know what is expected. I am looking forward to getting started and helping this team achieve great things," he said.
Enzo also said that it is a huge challenge to manage the club, considering the success over the years. He said that the club wants to play the same brand of football they have been playing for years.
"It is a huge challenge to be the manager of a club like Manchester City, especially because of the success they have had over the last 15 years. But at the same time, it is an exciting challenge. The target is to continue the winning run and maintain the high standards of the past decade. I think the club wants to keep playing the same style of football, and that is one of the reasons I am here. Our aim is to do what matters most in football: win trophies and achieve important things. The day-to-day work will also shape the way we approach things," he said.
On knowing a lot of the players and staff at the club, Enzo said that it makes things easier.
On how knowing most people at the club makes things much easier, "It is always easier when you join a club where you already have connections and know people inside the building. I know most of the staff here. In terms of the squad, I will probably find four or five players from the last time I was here. It is a big help for any manager when you already know the leadership group, the players, and the people around the club. That familiarity makes the transition much smoother," he added.
Speaking on the treble-winning season in 2022-23, Enzo said that the season was incredible not only for the trophies won, but as an experience too.
"I still remember the final part of the season, the home games against Arsenal and Liverpool. The way the fans pushed the team and the atmosphere inside the stadium was unbelievable. Those games were intense, and you could feel the belief growing with every win. The season ended perfectly with the victory parade, with the whole city celebrating. That was a fantastic feeling. It was an important journey for sure, and it showed what this club is capable of," he signed off.