Enzo Maresca, a new turning point for Manchester City
August 15, 2026 · TaegeukGoal
Enzo Maresca takes over as Manchester City manager, carrying on Pep Guardiola's legacy while also applying his own tactical style. This article compares the tactical approaches of the two managers.
Enzo Maresca, a new turning point for Manchester City
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As manager of Manchester City, Enzo Maresca is based on Pep Guardiola's tactics while applying his own unique style. In particular, his 3-2-2-3 tactic provides a new turning point in the team's defense and attack development, and this is expected to have a significant impact on the team's performance throughout the season.
Why it's important
Enzo Maresca's appointment as manager is expected to have a significant impact on Manchester City's tactical direction. His approach has the potential to bring a positive change to the team's performance by continuing Guardiola's legacy but introducing a new style. These changes can have a significant impact on a team's performance and results throughout the season.
Key takeaways
- Enzo Maresca, a new turning point for Manchester City.
- Enzo Maresca takes over as Manchester City manager, carrying on Pep Guardiola's legacy while also applying his own tactical style.
- How Enzo Maresca's Man City are shaping up compared with Pep Guardiola - BBC Sport.
Enzo Maresca has taken over as Manchester City manager, taking on the difficult task of continuing Pep Guardiola's successful 10-year career. Many believe his appointment signals continuity in tactical approach, but Maresca has his own style, which is increasingly evident in City's pre-season games. To understand Maresca's City, it is necessary to provide context for Guardiola's tactics. Guardiola may be misunderstood as not following a single approach, but there are principles he has adhered to throughout his career. The principle was to have as much of the ball as possible, keeping it as far away from one's own goal and as close to the opponent's goal as possible. His game is based on positional play, which defines how he positions himself in relation to other players when he has the ball.
Maresca's City embody this principle, as exemplified by their 64% possession against Inter Milan in the first game of the competition. Under Maresca's tactics, players play in clearly defined positions and do not move freely. The Italian coach, like Guardiola, is clearly an advocate of positional play. When attacking, Maresca ensures that three defenders and two defensive midfielders remain behind while he has the ball. His system is set up in a 3-2-2-3 shape, which is the approach he used when managing Chelsea. This strong positional style allows three defenders to remain in the first line, covering the width on the defensive flank. Maresca licenses one midfielder who can contribute to the attack, helping the team develop, screen the defense and provide a quick counter-attack when the ball is lost. Recently, Tijani Lijnders has taken on that role, with Mateo Kovacic taking up his position at the bottom of midfield. At the forefront of attacking tactics, the wingers are asked to stay high and wide, and this appears to be the most important part of Maresca's system. “The idea is clear, we are trying to get to the wingers. We have a lot of quality in the wingers,” Nico González said after a tough match against the K-League All-Stars. During Guardiola's final season, City often used their wingers narrowly, but Maresca's system is moving towards using their wingers wide.
Having the opposition double their dangerous wingers opens up space inside, and this is where attackers who are comfortable in small spaces, such as Phil Foden and Ryan Cherki, can have an impact on the game. Maresca is asking Josko Bardiol to move from left-back to left attacking midfielder, which helps create a box shape in midfield. When he is not in possession of the ball, Maresca's system shows the biggest changes compared to his Chelsea days. At the time, Maresca mainly used a 1:1 press at the top, but in the pre-season, City defended at the top but in a more zoned manner. Maresca said, “Usually the defending team found a solution to the 1:1, but now the teams trying to build up are looking for a solution to the 1:1,” adding that more teams are preparing for the 1:1 press.
Maresca's system is unique, but interestingly reflects City's performance over the past decade, as the club looks to begin a new chapter.
future outlook
Maresca is expected to work to further develop his tactics and improve the team's overall performance in future matches. In particular, the use of wingers and strengthening of positional play will play an important role in the team's offensive tactics. It is worth paying attention to how Maresca's tactics will be applied in the next game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Enzo Maresca take over as Manchester City manager?
Enzo Maresca has the difficult task of continuing Pep Guardiola's successful 10-year career.
What tactics are you using in Manchester City's pre-season games?
Maresca's City are based on a 3-2-2-3 shape of positional play, with three defenders on attack and two defensive midfielders remaining behind with the ball.
How do the players behave under Maresca's tactics?
In Maresca's system, players play in clearly defined positions and do not move freely.
When is Manchester City's next match?
No information was provided about Manchester City's next match in the article.
What role do wingers play in Maresca's system?
In Maresca's system, the wingers are asked to stay high and wide, which is an important part of the attacking tactic.
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