Manchester City are quietly preparing for the future, with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca emerging as one of the leading names under consideration if Pep Guardiola leaves the club next summer. While Guardiola remains fully committed to City and focused on the current campaign, the club’s hierarchy are understood to be carrying out behind-the-scenes contingency work. Such forward planning is typical of City’s long-term approach, particularly given Guardiola’s importance to the club’s identity and success over the past decade.
Since arriving at the Etihad in 2016, Guardiola has reshaped Manchester City into one of the most dominant teams in European football. Multiple Premier League titles, consistent deep Champions League runs and a historic treble have defined his era. However, Guardiola has previously spoken about the physical and mental demands of elite management, meaning City are keen to be prepared rather than caught off guard.
Enzo Maresca as the replacement:
Enzo Maresca’s inclusion among the top candidates reflects both familiarity and trust. The 45-year-old Italian knows the club well, having worked under Guardiola as part of City’s coaching staff between 2020 and 2022. During that period, Maresca played a role in developing the tactical framework that continues to shape City’s style today, built around possession control, intelligent positioning and aggressive pressing.
Now leading Chelsea, Maresca has attempted to implement those same ideas within a young and evolving squad. While results have been mixed at times, his emphasis on structure and long-term development has drawn praise, strengthening his reputation within elite coaching circles.
What This Could Mean for Chelsea
The emergence of Maresca as a potential successor at City could have implications for Chelsea, even if no immediate move is planned. Public interest from a club of City’s stature inevitably raises questions about stability, particularly as Chelsea continue a long-term rebuilding project.
Any uncertainty around Maresca’s future could place additional pressure on Chelsea’s ownership and sporting directors to reaffirm their commitment to him. The club invested heavily in a clear tactical direction under the Italian, and an early managerial disruption would risk slowing progress.
Chelsea Fans’ Reaction and Growing Concerns
Among Chelsea supporters, the news has sparked mixed emotions. While many view City’s interest as recognition of Maresca’s growing status, it has also triggered concern about yet another possible disruption. Fans have endured frequent managerial changes in recent seasons, and there is a strong desire for stability after committing to a long-term vision under the Italian.
Some supporters worry that external attention could distract from on-field progress, while others fear that Chelsea could once again be forced into a reset just as signs of structure and identity begin to emerge. For many, the priority is clarity from the club hierarchy, reassurance that Maresca remains central to the project and that lessons have been learned from past instability.
It is believed that if Maresca leaves , the core bunch of players can also lose confidence in the club’s project and they can also call for a departure too.
Which will surely be a huge problem for the fans and the club.
Conclusion :
For now, Guardiola remains central to City’s present. But the quiet preparation for a future beyond him underlines both his significance and the ripple effects . Enzo Maresca’s rise places him firmly in elite company, but the speculation also tests Chelsea’s resolve. How both clubs manage the noise around this situation may shape their long-term stability and direction.
