Gvardiol backs Maresca to succeed at Manchester City despite difficult Inter debut

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has backed new head coach Enzo Maresca to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, insisting the Italian is the right man to follow in the footsteps of legendary manager Pep Guardiola.

Maresca took charge of Manchester City for the first time during Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Inter Milan in Hong Kong, with City suffering a disappointing 3-1 defeat on penalties after a below-par performance.

The former Chelsea manager now faces the huge challenge of replacing Guardiola, whose incredible 10-year reign delivered unprecedented success at the club.

During his time in charge, Pep Guardiola guided City to 20 major trophies, including multiple Premier League titles, UEFA Champions League glory, and every major honour available to an English club.

With such a successful era coming to an end, Maresca has been handed the difficult task of maintaining City’s position among Europe’s elite.

Gvardiol confident Maresca is the right fit

Despite the defeat against Inter, Gvardiol has backed Maresca to make a successful start at the Etihad, describing him as the ideal appointment for the club.

“The level is that high. He has been chosen with reason as the manager,” Gvardiol said.

“I think he has quality, some new ideas, and we need to see what we are going to do. The style of play, the football we are going to play, and the tactics.”

“I think he is a perfect one, but of course, it takes time. It’s something totally new. It’s not easy to change the manager, so we will take time.”

The Croatian defender also stressed that the players have a responsibility to help Maresca settle quickly and understand his tactical approach.

“It’s our job to help him as much as possible and also to listen and try to adapt as quickly as possible.”

Gvardiol revealed that he has already spoken with Maresca about his recovery from injury and his previous experiences playing under Guardiola.

“I met him, we spoke a little bit about my injury, how we played, how I played before with Pep, and that’s it, more or less.”

Can Maresca continue Manchester City’s dominance?

Replacing Guardiola represents one of the biggest challenges in modern football, with City having established themselves as one of the most successful teams in Europe during the Spaniard’s tenure.

While questions remain over whether Manchester City can maintain their dominance in the coming seasons, Maresca will now look to implement his own ideas while preserving the winning mentality built under Guardiola.

Supporters will get another opportunity to assess the new-look City side when they face the K League All Stars in their next pre-season fixture, as Maresca continues preparations for his first competitive campaign in charge.