Following Guardiola may be impossible job - Maresca

Enzo Maresca is just starting to find out this summer, having been chosen as the Spaniard's successor at Manchester City - returning after being Guardiola's assistant during the club's Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.

Guardiola, one of the greatest managers of his generation, stepped down at the end of last season after leading City to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

Now, with his first pre-season as manager at the club nearing its end, Maresca sat down with the five travelling UK-based media in Seoul to discuss the challenges ahead.

"After 10 games, if we have got 10 points, 20 points, 30 points. People will be comparing it to Pep after 10 games, it doesn't put pressure on me," said Maresca.

"I have said many times while I was at Leicester or Chelsea , he is the best manager in the world over the last 15 or 20 years.

"When he started in Spain, everyone wanted to play like Barcelona, he moved to Germany everyone wanted to play like Bayern [Munich], he comes to England and everyone wants to play like City.

"Someone asked me if it's the impossible job to follow him - maybe, but at the same time it's a privilege."

The ex- Chelsea boss says he met Guardiola in Barcelona a day before he officially signed as his replacement, as it was "useful" to pick his brains - having been at the club for a decade.