)
Enzo Maresca has been compared to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola due to the striking resemblance between the pair
Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, has been dubbed the ‘Mini Pep’ due to his physical resemblance and professional connection to Manchester City’s manager, Josep Guardiola.
However, Maresca is keen to establish his own identity and distance himself from being another version of the Spanish gaffer despite acknowledging the significant influence Guardiola has had on his career.
Maresca refuses Guardiola comparison
Speaking in an interview with The Daily Mail, Maresca was grateful for Guariola’s influence on his own career, saying, “When I joined Chelsea, he [Guardiola] was very happy because he is sure with timing, we can build something important. If I am where I am now, it is because of him.”
)
Despite his praise for the Manchester City coach, Maresca insisted on being his own man, saying, “For instance, Willy Caballero is my assistant. In one or two years, if he joins another club, for sure they are going to ask him, ‘Do you have the same idea?’ Because he was working with me. It’s normal.
“[People say] Because he’s bald and with a beard, he wants to play the same. No, I don’t. I fell in love with that idea, but that does not mean it is exactly the same.”
Maresca reveals Chelsea interview request
Maresca’s challenge in being compared to Guardiola based solely on appearances has also affected present and past job expectations.
)
According to the Italian gaffer during his tenure at Leicester City, expectations to replicate Guardiola’s style were high and he faced a similar request when joining Chelsea.
Maresca revealed: “When I joined Leicester and met the chairman and sporting director, they said, ‘We want to play the same way that City play.’ I told them, ‘We don’t have the same players, and I am not the same manager.
)
“The same thing when I met Chelsea. I said, the idea is that idea, but probably we need time because the players also need to understand what way we want to play and it’s different.”
Maresca was appointed by Chelsea in June on a five-year contract with an option for an additional year. Given the comparisons with Guardiola, the Blues will be hoping the Italian can be as successful as his former mentor at Stamford Bridge.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)