'Three managers in 17 years is not normal' – Maresca wants to maintain Man City continuity

Enzo Maresca hopes the tradition of Manchester City giving their head coaches time will help him be successful at the Etihad Stadium, though he acknowledges the difficulty of replacing Pep Guardiola.

Maresca held his first press conference as City boss on Friday, having been appointed on a three-year deal last month.

The Italian is back at the Etihad for a third stint, having previously served as head coach of their under-21s before having a separate spell as one of Guardiola's assistant coaches. 

Maresca takes the reins following Guardiola's wildly successful 10 years at the helm, a period that saw City win 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club's first-ever Champions League crown in 2022-23.

And the former Chelsea boss knows how difficult it will be to fill his shoes, citing the historical precedents of Manchester United and Arsenal – who both struggled after the retirements of Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger – as warning signs.  

"I feel like I'm back home. I feel very good. The feeling, since day one, has been brilliant. I'm so happy," Maresca said.

"It is a privilege that the club decided to go for me. I have said many times, I consider Pep the best coach in the world in the last 20 to 25 years. It is a challenge.

"Also, in the history of managers with many years at the same club, [their replacements] struggle a bit. Sir Alex, Arsene... but it is also a challenge to do the right things.

"The organisation is the main thing. This club has had three managers in 17 years. That is not normal and has not happened often. 

"I am confident that we can continue to do a great job and continue to do the job that has been done in the last 13 years, since Roberto Mancini was here."

Prior to Guardiola's decade in charge, City were led by Manuel Pellegrini from 2013 to 2016 and Roberto Mancini from 2009 to 2013, with both of those coaches overseeing a Premier League title success.

Maresca left Chelsea on New Year's Day this year, having won the Conference League and Club World Cup trophies during his 18-month stint at Stamford Bridge.

But Maresca's Chelsea averaged 1.74 points-per-game in the Premier League. The only managers to lead them for 30 or more league games in the 21st century and have a lower rate are Frank Lampard (1.52) and Mauricio Pochettino (1.66).

Maresca inherits a world-class City squad, though, with the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson bolstering his midfield options earlier this week.

Asked if he expected City to make further moves in the transfer market, Maresca said: "You have to adapt and I think it is a nice weapon with Erling [Haaland] as a number nine. 

"Not all clubs have those players that are good at combinations, but that can't be the only solution. We need to find more solutions.

"I think there is always something to do because of what we want and also the dynamics of the transfer window. There are probably a few things to do, but we are in the process of doing that."