Ilkay Gundogan has expressed his delight at Enzo Maresca's appointment as Manchester City manager, calling the Italian 'incredible' and praising his human qualities. Maresca, who served as Pep Guardiola's assistant during the 2022/23 Treble-winning season, has signed a three-year contract to succeed the legendary coach.
Gundogan's Verdict on Maresca
Gundogan, City's captain during that Treble campaign, spoke highly of Maresca's coaching abilities and character. 'As a coach I think he has amazing qualities,' Gundogan said. 'Maybe they are now obviously different than he was when he was an assistant - this is something I can't really judge - but you know that he's smart and he knows exactly what he does. As a human being he's unbelievable, honestly.'
The midfielder added: 'In this football world I have not met many other people like him to be honest. I think he will be incredible and, similar to Pep, he has the intelligence to do the right decisions and to do the right tactical things. But then also the human side, to get everyone on board. I'm sure that probably 99% of the people inside the club will also be very happy.'
Maresca's Challenge at City
Taking over from Guardiola, one of the greatest managers of all time, is a daunting task. Maresca, however, has embraced the challenge. His previous stint as Guardiola's assistant left a lasting impression on the squad, particularly on Gundogan, who saw the game similarly to Guardiola and often relayed the manager's instructions to teammates.
Gundogan, who spent eight years at City over two spells, is also considering a future coaching role at the club after his playing career ends. He sees parallels between Guardiola and Maresca, both in tactical acumen and man-management skills.
Guardiola's Warning
Despite the similarities, Guardiola has cautioned against simply copying his methods. Yet Gundogan believes Maresca's intelligence and human touch will ensure a smooth transition, keeping City at the pinnacle of English and European football.
