Maresca impressed with balance of City squad | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca says he is inheriting a City team with ‘the right mix’ of youth and experience – but feels there are still areas that need some work.

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Our new manager is familiar with many members of the current squad from his previous two stints at the Club as EDS head coach in 2020/21 and Pep Guardiola’s assistant in 2022/23.

The Italian will look to build on a campaign that saw the Blues finish second in the Premier League while securing a domestic cup Double.

“It’s a young squad, but it’s a very good squad,” said Maresca.

“I think also we have the right mix between young players and more experienced players which helps a lot the young ones to grow and improve.

“The squad is already good, for sure. We need to do some things, but we are working with Hugo [Viana] and we will see.”

Maresca also said he will give emerging youngsters the opportunity to impress.

Nico O’Reilly is a prime example of how our Academy can produce wonderful talent for the senior team and he can draw in his experiences as our EDS boss in terms of  progression through the youth ranks.

“I think in the last, I’m not sure exactly how many years, but also when I was here with the EDS, most of that squad, most of those players are all Premier League players or almost all of them,” he said.

“The way they are working and the methodology they use in the last years also help the young players to develop in the right way.

“With younger players, you need also to be a little bit brave to give them an opportunity and we will continue to do that.”

And Maresca says he intends to continue the style of beautiful football that was the trademark of his predecessor and friend, Pep Guardiola, adding: “Since that season (2022/23), the seasons I’ve had with my two previous clubs that were fortunately good seasons.

“The idea I said from the Club is to continue to maintain the same style of football that City had in the last years, so we’re going to try to do that.

“Also because it’s the way I like to work. The idea is to continue as much as we can to dominate games, to play in the opposite side, be aggressive off the ball and with intention on the ball.

“I think that during my experience as a player, you try to take all the best things from all the managers [you have worked with].

“For sure, for me, I feel like I’ve been lucky working and sharing time with the managers I have because they showed during the seasons and years how good they have been and they are also all different.

“Marcelo Lippi in terms of leadership was fantastic, Carlo Ancelotti in terms of calming down and also he’s a top manager so I feel quite lucky.”

And on returning to Manchester? “My family and I, we like a lot Manchester as a city.

“We feel very good in the two years we spent here with the kids, with everyone, so the idea is to continue to enjoy the city.”