Two Manchester City players have voiced their enthusiasm for working under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Vitor Reis and Phil Foden have both spoken publicly about their excitement as the Italian takes charge at the Etihad. Maresca, who previously served as an assistant under Pep Guardiola, returns to the club following a spell managing elsewhere.
Reis, who joined City from Nottingham Forest this summer, did not hold back in his assessment.
“Maresca is a great coach who has a lot of football knowledge. My expectations for working with him are very high.”
The defender’s arrival, along with the appointment of a manager who knows the club’s structure, suggests continuity remains a priority for the Blues. City go into the new season as FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.
Foden, fresh from signing a contract extension that runs until 2030, offered a more personal reflection. He recalled Maresca’s role during the treble-winning campaign of 2022-23.
“So excited. Obviously, I’ve had Enzo before. When we had him in the Treble season, he was brilliant.”
The England international went further, praising the manager’s individual approach.
“His attention to detail, the small things that make a big difference, and even training with him at the moment, you can tell how good of a coach he is. I’m really excited to play under him and see where it goes. He’s so nice. He’s down to earth. He’s someone that you can go to and talk about anything to him, and he would help you out.”
Foden also highlighted the extra work Maresca put in during his first stint at the club.
“Even if you want to work on things to get better, he’ll do one-on-one sessions with you after training. And that’s something he did with me as well when he was here. I did small finishing drills with him and things like that, and he really grew my game.”
The early signs are that the squad is buying in. Whether that translates into silverware remains to be seen, but the mood around the camp appears positive.