Guardiola Reacts to Maresca's New Name: "He's Still the Same Great Coach!"
Manchester, England - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reacted to his former assistant, Andrea Maresca, being appointed the new manager of Leicester City, with a humorous nod to the Italian's new position.
"Maresca is a fantastic coach," Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference ahead of City's clash with Newcastle United. "I know he's going to do a great job at Leicester. He was a great assistant for me, but now he's going to be a great manager. I'm happy for him, but I'm not sure I can call him Maresca anymore. It's going to be a little weird."
Guardiola's lighthearted comment was a playful dig at the change in Maresca's title, as he moves from being a trusted assistant to taking the reins as the main man at Leicester.
"He's still the same great coach," Guardiola continued. "He's got a great footballing brain and he's a very good tactician. He's also a great man, so I'm sure he'll be very popular with the Leicester fans. I'm excited to see what he can do there."
Maresca, who has been a coach at both Manchester City and Real Madrid, has been touted as a rising star in the world of football management. His appointment at Leicester is a big step in his career, and Guardiola's backing speaks volumes about the Italian's potential.
While Guardiola will be rooting for his former assistant, he will be looking to continue his own success story when Manchester City face Newcastle on Saturday.
The Foxes will be looking to Maresca to turn around their fortunes after a disappointing 2022-23 season. With Guardiola's blessing, and his own proven footballing acumen, Maresca will be hoping to make a name for himself at the King Power Stadium.
