Photo via BBC Sport

How Maresca is tackling football's impossible job

Taking over following Pep Guardiola's departure in May, 46-year-old Enzo Maresca is stamping his own personality on Manchester City despite early comparisons to David Moyes succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as the transition after Arsene Wenger. After opening the campaign with a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield, the squad responded with five consecutive wins, featuring a Champions League triumph away to Porto.

The manager has demonstrated tactical growth since a defeat at the identical ground a year prior with Chelsea, when he rushed into two substitutions inside seven minutes after Robert Sanchez was red-carded early; this time, he calmly adjusted by shifting Rayan Cherki out right before swapping him for Iliman Ndiaye during the interval.

In contrast to his predecessor's animated sideline behavior, Maresca stands calm with crossed arms, while bringing upbeat energy to media duties with quips like adapting the marital proverb to celebrate Erling Haaland's decisive strike. Modern touches include blasting pulsating house music during workouts to boost morale, which newly appointed skipper Ruben Dias noted adds fresh defensive and pressing nuances without dismantling the core foundation.