Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has praised Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, describing him as a genius who stands out in the world of football.
Maresca, who worked under Guardiola at Manchester City for two years, faced his former boss in the opening game of the Premier League season at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.
Reflecting on his experiences, Maresca said, “I worked under Carlo Ancelotti, Marcello Lippi, and Manuel Pellegrini as a player, and then I worked with Pep for two seasons at Manchester City. I try to take insights from all of them to shape my own coaching philosophy.”
He went on to emphasize his high regard for Guardiola, stating, “I don’t consider Pep a manager; I consider him a genius because he is ahead of the rest. When you are close to him, you try to learn and develop your own coaching ideas.”
Since their opening weekend defeat to Manchester City, Chelsea has shown improvement, securing one win and one draw in their subsequent games. Despite missing out on signing Victor Osimhen on deadline day, Maresca’s leadership is seen as key to stabilizing the team.
Chelsea will look to build on their recent performances as they prepare for the return of the Premier League this weekend.