Maresca, who succeeded Guardiola as manager of Manchester City, said that being compared to others does not bring him pressure.

Manchester City manager Maresca recently stated in an interview that he had communicated with Guardiola before officially taking over as manager of Manchester City, and that being compared to Guardiola by the outside world does not bring him pressure.

During his 10-year tenure at Manchester City, Guardiola led the "Citizens" to six Premier League titles, three FA Cup titles, five FA Cup titles, and one Champions League title, including the treble he won in the 2022/23 season.

Following Guardiola's resignation, Italian Maresca was appointed as Manchester City's manager at the end of June.

Manchester City manager Maresca said, "Before the end of last season, we had already planned to spend some time together during the summer break, and we spent a few hours together."

“Sometimes, I like to start working without any preconceived notions so that I can observe and judge everything myself. However, Guardiola has been here for so long, so of course he will have his own opinions. But at the same time, I also have to come here in person to understand the whole situation firsthand.”

Maresca, who once served as Guardiola's assistant coach, said, "If we get 10, 20 or 30 points after 10 games, people will compare that result with Guardiola's performance after 10 games, but that doesn't put pressure on me."

“I have said this many times during my time at Leicester or Chelsea: he has been the best manager in the world for the last 15 to 20 years.”

On the other hand, Manchester City will face Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield in 2026, after which they will begin their journey in the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Maresca also stated, "We lost Bernardo Silva, Ake, and Stones. Rodri has also been here for many years; they are all players who have served the club for a long time. But ultimately, the team will always experience a transition between generations."

Image source: Internet