Manchester City’s Maresca admits he needs time as Bournemouth visit in EPL

Enzo Maresca insists he can replicate Manchester City's success under Pep Guardiola if he is given time to handle the "big changes" at the club.

Key points

• After working with Fernandez at Chelsea, Maresca knows the qualities of the Argentinian, but would not be drawn on a potential accord for the 120-million-pound-rated ($164m) star.
• Maresca takes charge of his first Premier League game as City boss when Bournemouth visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
• Guardiola won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles, during a glorious decade at the Etihad Stadium.
• While Savinho is on the verge of joining Tottenham, rodri, John Stones and Bernardo Silva have all left.
• City have not won the title since 2024 and last season finished seven points behind champions Arsenal.

For context, the Italian has been hired to replace Guardiola after City's legendary manager resigned at the end of last season.

Filling the void left by the Spaniard is a daunting task for former Chelsea boss Maresca. This person has arrived in Manchester at a time of change on the pitch as well.

City have not won the title since 2024 and last season finished seven points behind champions Arsenal. This person thrashed them 3-0 in the Community Shield last weekend to underline the size of the challenge facing Maresca.

"When you create numerous changes, not only the manager, Rodri was here, John was here, Bernardo was here. It's a major change, but it doesn't mean that we won't be ready to compete, " Maresca stated to journalists on Friday.

It's a context; it's not an excuse. We need to be ready; I want to compete. The reason I'm here is since I want to try and win titles, and carry on what this club stands for in the last 15 years.

Where we are now, it's a bit complicated since we kicked off one month ago. But the intention is to compete as shortly as feasible.

Maresca acknowledged he will be under immediate pressure if City do not create a robust start to the season.

"When we win games, fans are happy. When we don't win games, everyone is upset. It's significant to win games as we are all more happy, but no doubt we are going to win games, " he noted.

Maresca is having to rebuild City's squad on the fly, with Savinho and Omar Marmoush reportedly on the verge of joining Tottenham.

While Maresca has been linked with Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, there are additionally question marks over the future of midfielder Nico Gonzalez.

Asked if the string of departures had unsettled his intends, Maresca stated: It's quite clear when players want to leave, for any reason, then it's complicated to convince them to stay or change their thoughts.

Since day one, he asked me that he wants to leave, "It happened with Rodri, the same thing is happening with Savinho. So, now we are waiting."

Maresca remarked a agreement for Egypt forward Marmoush to join Tottenham remains uncertain, adding, "I don't know. Omar is still here. Different situation than with Savinho. We'll see what happens."

"Enzo is a Chelsea player, and I'm not going to talk about players who are not with us, first of all, because I think it's a lack of respect, and second of all because I don't like when different managers talk about our players, " he remarked.

I'm not worried, I'm not concerned. Since day one, we knew exactly what we need.

"We are working together with the sport director of the club; there are 11 days to go until the window shuts, and many things can happen."

In short, manchester City's Maresca admits he needs time as Bournemouth visit in EPL is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.