Enzo Maresca backed by Man City star as 'perfect' Pep Guardiola successor

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has been praised by defender Josko Gvardiol for his early sessions with the team.

Enzo Maresca has been called a 'perfect' choice to replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City players enjoy working with the new manager. Maresca took on the daunting challenge of succeeding one of the greatest coaches in the game when he left the Etihad in May after a decade at the club.

All eyes are on Maresca and City to see how they will cope without Guardiola, and their rivals are relishing the prospect of no longer having to compete with the Catalan. Maresca has built his reputation as a head coach over the last three years though and relished the opportunity to take charge at the Etihad after leaving Chelsea last season.

It is still early days for the squad with many still resting after the World Cup, but those players who have started to work with the new coach have been impressed by his training sessions. City defender Josko Gvardiol described Maresca as perfect for the way that he and the team want to play going forward.

"The level is that high and Enzo has been chosen with reason as the manager," he said. "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.

"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."

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