The Japan Times - Maresca needs time to succeed after 'big changes' at Man City

Maresca takes charge of his first Premier League game as City boss when Bournemouth visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

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

Guardiola won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles, during a glorious decade at the Etihad Stadium.

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

Rodri, John Stones and Bernardo Silva have all left, while Savinho is on the verge of joining Tottenham.

City haven't won the title since 2024 and last season finished seven points behind champions Arsenal, who thrashed them 3-0 in the Community Shield last weekend to underline the size of the challenge facing Maresca.

"When you make many changes, not only the manager, Rodri was here, John (Stones) was here, Bernardo (Silva) was here. It's a big change, but it doesn't mean that we won't be ready to compete," Maresca told reporters 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 because 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 because we started one month ago. But the intention is to compete as soon as possible."

- 'I'm not worried' -

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

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

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

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

Asked if the string of departures had unsettled his plans, Maresca said: "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.

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

Maresca said a deal 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."

After working with Fernandez at Chelsea, Maresca knows the qualities of the Argentine, but wouldn't be drawn on a potential deal for the £120 million rated star.

"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 said.

"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."

T.Kobayashi--JT