Enzo Maresca 115 answer hints at Man City change after copying Pep act

Enzo Maresca turned to that playbook in May, not because it was what his predecessor did but because he felt it right. Maresca contacted Phil Foden to talk about his state of mind after missing out on the England squad at the World Cup, and then supported Jeremy Doku when he received some unfair treatment with Belgium.

As much as he is a tactical mind, Maresca is a people person and having heard former players at Leicester and Chelsea speak glowingly of him these are the touches that will help his arrival to Manchester go a little smoother with a squad waiting to be won over. It should be said, of course, that plenty of players have work to do to convince the new manager.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

If it was interesting to hear of the human touch from Maresca, there was plenty of evidence that the new coach was not interested in making the sort of statements that would make back pages and online headlines. Where Guardiola went above and beyond in his role as club spokesperson, Maresca had no interest in indulging any more conversation around the outstanding Premier League charges, for instance.

It was noise when they dropped three years ago when he was at the club, he effectively said, and nothing has changed since. There was very little offered in terms of transfers or even confirming plans for the squad this season, and even in regard to his preferred playing style the answers were concise.

Some of that may change with different times and circumstances, but Maresca is not known for incendiary press conferences and those who know him well do not expect to become as publicly invested in issues across the club as Guardiola was - at least as a general rule.

Maresca will stay cool and save his fire for the relationship that is his priority: coach to players. It may result in a few quieter Fridays for everyone, but if it brings happy Saturdays and Sundays that is the best way of keeping fans entertained.