Josko Gvardiol Hails Enzo Maresca as ‘Perfect’ Manager for Manchester City

Enzo Maresca has taken over the manager’s role of Manchester City following the exit of legendary Pep Guardiola last season after serving the club for a decade. Maresca has signed a three-year contract with City, having previously won the Championship title with Leicester and the Club World Cup with Chelsea.

The 46-year-old Italian took charge of the City for the first time in the club’s friendly match against Inter Milan in Hong Kong that the team lost. Josko Gvardiol, the City defender said, “the level is that high and he has been chosen with reason as the manager.”

He further added, “I think he has a quality, has some new ideas and also we need to see what we are going to do with the style of play, the football we are going to play and the tactics. I think he is the 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. It’s our job to help him as much as possible and also to listen and try to adapt as quickly as possible. I met him, we spoke a little bit about my injury and also how we played, how I played before with Pep, and that’s it, more or less.”

Players could feel Guardiola exit was imminent: Gvardiol

Gvardiol was out of action for almost five months last season due to the broken bone in his right leg; the injury which he picked in January, before returning to play in May.

Speculation has been rife throughout the season that Guardiola could leave the club and there were signs of his exit before the manager finally confirmed his decision to leave the club in the last week of the season.

“Some would say he could have told us earlier, some would say not. I think it was perfect timing because it can affect you mentally if he would have said it earlier. We knew at some point he had to tell us. He has been there for 10 years and it is time to rest a little bit and retire. We could feel it.” Said Gvardiol

He also quipped, the 2024-25 seas he was in between, about to leave, then he stayed great because it was another season to try to win something. Two seasons ago, we struggled, 13 games without winning. Unfortunately it was time for him to go but who knows with him, maybe after six months when he gets the energy back.”

Dias could become the new City’s captain

The Croatian, Josko Gvardiol played in all four games for his national team at the World Cup 2020 where they suffered an agonising loss against Portugal in the last-32 stage after their late equaliser was ruled out by assistant video referee.

His team-mate, Ruben Dias at city featured for Portugal in that game, while the midfielder Rodri led Spain to the ultimate glory in Football and both the players are considered to be the frontrunners to become the caption at City after their former skipper Bernardo Silva left to join the Spanish Club Real Madrid following the expiry of his contract.

Gvardiol will extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium after he signed a new five-year deal with the club last week. When asked about the leadership group at the club, Gvardiol said, “It is difficult to tell you about it but we need to see. Ruben Dias is one of the leaders in our team and he is probably going to be on the top now, maybe the most important one. He will need some guys who have been here for a longer time. So, if that's on me, I will take responsibility.”