Enzo Maresca has returned to Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s successor, acknowledging the difficulty of following a manager who won 20 trophies in 10 years. He said clubs can struggle after long-serving, highly successful managers leave, but described the role as a challenge to continue the work already done for the club and its supporters.

Maresca previously managed City’s elite development squad and was Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 treble-winning season, experience that appears to have persuaded the club’s hierarchy he is suited to the job. City have had only three managers in 17 years — Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Guardiola — while the club reportedly paid Chelsea £17m compensation after Maresca left there on New Year’s Day.