Enzo Maresca has been hailed as the "perfect" man to succeed Pep Guardiola by Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol, who says the squad has been impressed by the new coach's early sessions.
Maresca took on the challenge of succeeding one of the greatest coaches in the game when Guardiola left the Etihad in May after a decade at the club. He has built his reputation as a head coach over the last three years and relished the opportunity to take charge at the Etihad after leaving Chelsea last season.
With many players still resting after the World Cup, it remains early days, but those who have started working with Maresca have been impressed by his training sessions.
'He is a perfect one'
Gvardiol said: "The level is that high and Enzo has been chosen with reason as the manager. I think he has a quality, has some new ideas and also we need to see what we're going to do [with] the style of [play], the football we are going to play and the tactics and everything. I think he is a perfect one, but of course it takes time."
Adapting to a new era
All eyes are on Maresca and City to see how they will cope without Guardiola, with rivals relishing the prospect of no longer having to compete with the Catalan.
Gvardiol acknowledged that the change will take time, adding: "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 to try to adapt as quick as possible."
The defender was speaking in a wide-ranging interview covering the disappointment of last season and why he will have to play through the pain barrier this season.
