Enzo Maresca responds over next job after Chelsea exit as Man City rumours addressed

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been heavily linked with replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and the Italian has now broken his silence to respond to the speculation surrounding his future as a manager

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has admitted he is “ready for the next chapter” amid speculation linking him with succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Maresca, who spent the 2022/23 campaign as Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium, departed the club to take charge of Leicester City in the Championship. The Italian made a significant impression at the Foxes, guiding them to promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

While many were curious to see how Maresca would fare at Leicester in the top flight, he opted to leave in May 2024 to take up the role of head coach at Chelsea.

It proved to be an astute move for Maresca, whose reputation soared despite his sacking on New Year’s Day. He steered the Blues back into the Champions League, claimed the Conference League title and then the Club World Cup, all within his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

However, a turbulent start to the current campaign, compounded by Maresca publicly stating in a press conference that he lacked backing from the club, led Chelsea to dismiss the 46-year-old in January.

In the nearly six months since his departure, Maresca has emerged as the frontrunner to return to the Etihad and step into Guardiola’s shoes when the Spaniard eventually moves on.

Reports surfaced last month that Maresca is City’s preferred choice to step in and build upon the foundations Guardiola has laid over the past decade.

With speculation mounting, Maresca has now broken his silence regarding a return to management and was pressed directly on the prospect of succeeding Guardiola at City.

“I feel ready for the next chapter, that is the most important thing,” Maresca said on Sky Sport Italia.

When questioned specifically about a potential move back to City, he added: “What matters, regardless of the club, is being ready. There are only a few weeks left until the end of the season, then we’ll see what happens.”

Guardiola, who has been at City since 2016, has one year remaining on his contract in Manchester. However, there is growing talk that the Spaniard could walk away from his position at the end of this campaign.

Speaking about his own future earlier this month, Guardiola dropped a significant hint that he could remain at City until his contract expires next summer. “I wouldn’t be 10 years (here) – even with good titles – if I didn’t have this incredible environment,” Guardiola said last week.

“I still have incredible energy, still I’m so good, coming here to work on my days off. Of course we’re here because we won a lot – and that’s why they don’t fire you, because they continue to trust you – but apart from that, the club is really, really extraordinary.

“The people take care of all of us in all details. The little details mean my job as a manager and the players, is to just think about what you have to do. It’s like a bubble that makes people feel good. It’s a big club, but here it is a family.”

Guardiola and City have four remaining fixtures this season — three Premier League clashes against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa, alongside the FA Cup final showdown with Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.