Manchester City have appointed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on a three-year contract, confirming the Italian as the man chosen to succeed Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
The announcement was accompanied by considerable off-field drama. At exactly the moment City confirmed the appointment, Chelsea released a strongly worded statement revealing that Maresca had resigned from Stamford Bridge on 1 January 2026 — with his head and heart no longer at the club — despite holding a contract running until 2030. Chelsea described his departure as causing significant disruption that contributed to a disastrous second half of the season in which the Blues finished tenth in the Premier League under replacement manager Liam Rosenior.
City will pay Chelsea more than £17 million in compensation as part of the deal, with Maresca himself also paying an undisclosed personal sum to his former employers as part of a confidential settlement.
Maresca returns to City for a third spell — having previously led their Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title in 2020/21 and served as Guardiola's first-team assistant during the Treble-winning season of 2022/23. In a statement on Instagram, he apologised to Chelsea for the disruption caused but said he was "ecstatic" to be joining City.
During 18 months at Stamford Bridge, Maresca won the Conference League and the Club World Cup — trophies that will count for little against the Chelsea supporters now watching him depart for their Premier League rivals. His task at the Etihad is a formidable one: restoring City to the summit of English and European football after a period of declining dominance.
The Guardiola era is over. The Maresca era begins now.
Source: Redaction Ballocentre.com
Images: Getty, Manchester City
After a decade of unprecedented dominance, Pep Guardiola has brought his extraordinary Manchester City chapter to a close — a spell that delivered 20 major trophies, countless records, and a style of football that reshaped the modern game. His legacy is unquestionable: City’s greatest‑ever manager, and one of the most transformative leaders in world football history.
For his final act before leaving the Etihad, Pep sits down for an intimate, reflective conversation with lifelong City fan and global music icon Noel Gallagher. Together, they look back on the journey, the evolution, the triumphs, and the philosophy that defined an era.
A fitting final assignment for a manager who changed everything.
Muchas, Muchas Gracias Pep! - From Ballocentre.com and surely all City Fans out there.
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Images: Getty, Manchester City
On November 9, 2025, Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1000th game in management with a dominant 3–0 win over defending champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
The victory was not just symbolic. It was a tactical clinic that neutralized Liverpool’s strengths and showcased City’s evolving blueprint.
⚽ Tactical Highlights
Salah Shutdown Strategy
Guardiola’s plan centered on collectively neutralizing Mohamed Salah, who has historically tormented City. Instead of man-marking, Guardiola deployed a three-man pressure pod around Salah: Nico O'Reilly, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden rotated to deny him space and isolate him from Liverpool’s build-up.
Midfield Overload and Positional Rotation
City operated in a hybrid structure, with Matheus Nunes anchoring midfield while Doku, Silva, Foden, and Nico González interchanged fluidly. This created overloads in central zones and pulled Liverpool’s midfield out of shape.
Verticality and Wide Threats
Jeremy Doku was electric down the left, repeatedly isolating Conor Bradley and creating chances. His goal in the 63rd minute—a curling shot from the edge of the box—was the result of sustained wide pressure.
Pressing Triggers and Defensive Solidity
Guardiola instructed his players to press aggressively when Liverpool attempted to build through Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai. This forced turnovers and limited Liverpool to just one shot on target all game.
⚽ Goals Breakdown
29' Erling Haaland Header from Nunes’ cross after missed penalty
45+3' Nico González Deflected long-range strike off Van Dijk
63' Jeremy Doku Solo run and curled finish from 20 yards
Guardiola’s Reflections
“Mohamed Salah has punished us so many times. This time, we surrounded him every time he got the ball. It was a team effort.” — Pep Guardiola
“To make my 1000th game against Liverpool, in front of my family, and win like this—it’s special.” — Pep Guardiola.
Ballocentre.com's little comment
Hate him or love him Josep "Pep" is on top and he is going to continue till his heart stops,
Cause they envy him, he is the Manager's MVP, and he ain't going nowhere till you get to know him...
Source :Ballocentre.com
Images : AP, GETTY, REUTERS, English Premier League, _infinityfootball Instagram
