Guardiola’s Replacement Has the Support of the Players
The Guardiola cycle has ended, but the trust remains intact
A new cycle after Guardiola
Manchester City is starting a new chapter after Pep Guardiola's departure, and they are doing so with a clear message from within the squad, the players trust Enzo Maresca. Josko Gvardiol, the Croatian defender, was emphatic in stating that the Italian is "the right one" to take the reins of the club during this transitional period.
The challenge of staying on top
Maresca was officially announced in June as the new coach with a three-year contract, after Guardiola concluded a golden decade at the Etihad. The Italian arrives with solid credentials, having led Chelsea to win the Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025. His debut with City came during the preseason tour in Hong Kong, against Inter, where the team lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Gvardiol, who played the first half of that friendly, highlighted the new coach's ability to bring fresh ideas and keep the club at the top. "The level is very high and he was chosen for a reason. He has quality, new ideas, and now we need to see how we are going to play, the style and the tactics. I think he is the perfect one, although it will take time. It's not easy to change coaches, but our job is to help him and adapt as quickly as possible," he stated.
Pep's farewell and the right moment
Guardiola's departure, announced in the last week of the 2025-26 season, was an expected but equally difficult blow. After months of speculation, the Catalan coach decided to end his cycle. For Gvardiol, the chosen moment was the right one: "Some will say that I could have said it earlier, others won't. I think it was perfect timing, because if he had said it earlier, it could have affected us mentally. He was there for ten years, it was time to take a little break."
