Enzo Maresca's First Manchester City Press Conference | BBC Football
Watch Enzo Maresca's first press conference in charge of Manchester City as he is unveiled as their new manager after succeeding Pep Guardiola. Follow more on the BBC Sport app, iPlayer and Sounds. ============= Find us here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBCMOTD X: https://x.com/BBCMOTD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcfootball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcsport bbcfootball
Transcript
Delighted to introduce our new manager, Enzo Maresca. Please raise your hand if you have a question and um we'll get to around as many as we can. We've got the mics at the side of the room. There will be a photo opportunity at the end um for the cameras in the room. And we'll also set an embargo partway through for 10:30 p.m. this evening. If you please give your name and organization before your question for the manager and um we'll get started. Start with ALP. >> Hello Enzo. Um Fraser from Premier League Studios. Welcome back. How does it feel to be back at Manchester City and and how's the the settling in period been for you so far? >> Yeah, before uh before we start, I would like to send uh message a big hug to Kevin Keegan family for uh for this moment. And yeah, I feel to be honest, I feel as we said like a back home. I feel very good. Uh the feeling since since they they want us being brilliant, so happy. >> Um in terms of your squad, so far you've made a a few changes with Anderson coming in, signing up Foden on a new deal. Some players have left. Where do you view the squad at the moment, how it sits and how much work do you think there is to be done before you will be happy with it? >> I think there is always something to do uh because it's something that we want but also because it's a bit the dynamic of the you know, window window transferred. So, probably uh there are few things to do but uh yeah, we are in the process to do that. >> Hi Enzo. Ben Ransom from Sky Sports. Um Pep Guardiola sat there for 10 years, widely regarded as the best coach on the planet. So, does that make following him the toughest job in world football? >> Uh first of all, I want to say that it's a privilege because the reason why the club decide to go for me, that means that for me it's a privilege. As you said, I said many times that as you just said, I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20 25 years. But again, it's a challenge. It's it's nice. It's a privilege. Also the the the the history know of the manager with many years in the same club after always struggle a little bit after Sir Alex, after Arsene. But also it's a challenge to try to do the right things immediately for this organization, for the fans, for everyone. >> What gives you the most confidence that you are the man to take this club and not struggle like other managers that you've just referenced maybe have? >> No. Yeah, first of all, I think the organization is the main thing. This club, this organization, they are three managers in 17 years. This is not normal. It's not happen often. So this probably is one of the thing that I'm confident that we can do a a great job. We can continue to do the job that has done has been done in the last probably 14 15 years since Roberto was here, Mancini, then after Manuel. And as you said, 14 year 14 years back. >> I can ask you about Rodri. Now, it's our understanding he will have to have surgery on a back issue. There's also a lot of reports linking him with a move away given that he's coming into the last year of his contract. Now, he's said himself he'll decide his future after the World Cup, which is obviously now finished. I just want to get your understanding of the situation with Rodri. Are you expecting him back? Are you expecting him to play for Manchester City next season? Where are we at with that, please? >> Yeah, first of all, we have to say that around big player there are always speculations, so I'm not worried about that. I think it's normal. Also, because they won the the World Cup. He was the best player or one of the best player. And I think every manager wants to have Rodri because he's a top player. But now, as you said, surgery on, I think, Monday. And he needs holiday. He needs to rest. He needs to recovery. And then he will be back here with us. >> Andy. >> Hello Enzo. Andy Hampson from the Press Association. When your appointment was confirmed, Chelsea issued quite a a strong statement saying that they felt let down over the manner of your departure from there. Can you Do you accept that and can you can you comment on on that statement from Chelsea? >> No, I to be honest, I feel quite lucky in terms of my former club Leicester, Chelsea. I think we did great job in both club. The identity of the team was clear. The success of the team was clear. And I feel very lucky to be part of these clubs. But now I think we are here. Today that is the most important thing, just about City. And nothing to add. >> Okay. In terms of the the players you've got here and their availability, a lot of them taking leave after the World Cup. When when do you expect to have a a full squad available for for training? >> Yeah, the last the last group of players they're going to join us, I think, three or four days before the Community Shield final. And since then we have all the squad here. Now I'm working with the many young players. That is always good because full of energy. Some of them very good. so we're happy. >> Hi and Mark Crossley from the BBC. Hi yeah. Um, could any other club other than Manchester City have convinced you to move? What is it about this job and this opportunity that excites you so much? >> I just said first of all I know quite well the organization. I know the people inside the club from years ago as you know. The structure of the club. Again, I just said that when a club change, you know, three manager in almost 20 years also show how serious is the structure, you know, that probably understand to give time for everything. And since Man City contact or no doubt about about about joining this this fantastic club. >> Can I ask you about Jack Grealish? He arguably had his best form for City during the year, the treble season when you were here. He was on loan at Everton last year, had injury issues as well. He's back with the the club now. Do you see him as a regular part of your plans for this season? >> Jack at the moment this year is Man City player. I always said the same in any club I join. I like to, you know, if there are players that they belong to the club, it's my duty to try to to coach them. Jack at the moment this year. I have a good relation with Jack since I left. Also we keep in touch. And the reason why is because he has a big heart and he's a very good guy. So this is the reason why. And then we see what's happened. >> I can ask you about James Trafford as well. Does the same apply to him? >> Yeah, James, I know anyway, you know, I know James because he was my keeper when I was with under 23. So I James, I know James very good. But again, it's a uh uh when the window transfer is is open now or January, uh it's anything can happen. So, we see, but at the moment is it's uh one of our keeper. >> Hi Enzo, can you just explain the kind of football that you like to play and now you're at City with the players you kind of have, how you want to play and what we can expect? >> Yeah, I just said uh I think it was a clear the identity in all the former clubs I joined, Leicester and then Chelsea. Uh probably the reason why the club decide for me is because they can see some uh similar uh concept with the previous manager. And we always try to be aggressive off the ball, control the game, try uh to be the ones that we impose our our our idea. And try to do the most important thing in football that is win games at the end. >> You talked about controlling the game. In the last couple of years, the Premier League seems to have changed a lot in terms of set pieces and long throws, but the man-to-man marking and the the impact that that's had on how teams try and play from the back and build up. How has it affected what you like to do at Chelsea and how does it affect your plans for this for this team? >> It's just a just a matter of adapt. Uh I think any Yeah, for sure now we are talking about football, but any profession, I think that with the time everything change. So, you need to you need to adapt, you need to evolve. As you said, set pieces, man-to-man, now it's a little bit uh you know, the direction where football is going. But uh at the end is we are uh we are manager or we are in charge or we have the responsibility of that and it's our duty to find solution. >> What kind of things did you deploy as solutions, you know, in your last season at at Chelsea? And obviously, I'm sure you're planning for next season. What What kind of things do you have to change? Because we saw Pep last season go quite long from Donnarumma up to Haaland sometimes, which was different. How do you foresee that changing? >> Yeah, that can be a solution, for sure. Sometimes you have to go short, sometimes you have to go long. Depends a little bit also uh what the opponents they do. But uh you have to adapt, and I think it's a it's a nice weapon with with also with you know, with Gijo, with with Erling as a nine. It's also a nice weapon, because not all the teams or all the clubs they have these kind of players that you know, they are good in in in combination. Uh but cannot be the only the only solution. We need to find more more solution. >> So, anything about that for 10 first teams evening, Stuart Mathieson? >> Hi Enzo, uh Martin Blackburn from The Sun. Um you mentioned Pep earlier. Have you spoken to him at all since you took the job, and do you plan to speak to him much going forward? >> Uh yeah, I spoke with the Pep a lot uh since he decided to to leave uh the club. Uh I was with him a week ago. We spent some more hours together. Uh yeah, and but the relation relation with Pep since I was with under 23, always has been very quite close. >> And do you expect to sort of speak to him much, you know, week to week, or do you want to leave him alone to enjoy his retirement? >> No, uh he needs to enjoy he needs to enjoy his moment. And I also need to to to to to do my job, and to find the solution for myself.