New manager, same questions — for now

City are entering unfamiliar territory. For the first time in nearly a decade, the club are preparing for a season without Pep. Enzo Maresca now has the task of taking charge of a squad built on Guardiola’s principles while creating his own identity. There are no definitive answers yet. Those will only come on the pitch.

Pre-season starts against Inter Milan on 1st August. That is where the real work begins.

Maresca inherits a side that knows how to win. City won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in 2025-26. But the Premier League title now belongs to Arsenal, and PSG hold the Champions League. The standards at the Etihad have not dropped, but the landscape has shifted.

The squad has changed too. Bernardo Silva and John Stones have left this summer. That is two experienced, versatile players gone from the spine. Maresca will need to decide who replaces them — and how quickly the new combinations can gel.

What does Maresca want to change?

Guardiola’s methods are not a manual to be followed blindly. Maresca has worked under him before, but also managed Leicester and Parma. He has his own ideas. The balance between continuity and change will define pre-season. Too much too soon risks confusion. Too little risks being a pale imitation.

The striker question lingers too. City spent much of last season without a traditional number nine. That approach worked more often than not, but it required specific movement patterns and understanding. Maresca may have his own preferences. The friendlies will offer early clues.

Authority and the legal cloud

Guardiola’s presence was absolute. Every player knew the standards, the drills, the demands. Maresca will have to establish his own authority without dismantling what already works. That is a delicate process, and not everyone will adjust at the same speed.

Meanwhile, the 115 charges remain unresolved. No decision has come, and no timeline is clear. That cloud has not lifted, and it will not disappear just because the manager has changed. Maresca must prepare a squad for the season ahead while the club’s future remains in legal limbo.

Answers will come on the pitch, starting against Inter. Until then, questions are all we have.