Man City boss Pep Guardiola heaped praise on a Chelsea rival when he spoke to the press on Friday.
Going into the weekend’s action, Chelsea trail second-place City by four points.
While Aston Villa’s jaw-dropping turnaround has them sandwiched between the two blue clubs, it does feel like Guardiola’s side will be the ones joining Chelsea in the pursuit of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
While City have the edge as it stands, the Spaniard makes it clear that the Blues are serious competitors, led by one of the very best in the world.
Pep Guardiola of Man City and Enzo Maresca of Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Pep Guardiola makes a bold claim about Enzo Maresca
Guardiola has been seriously impressed by his protegee’s impact at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca worked as Pep’s assistant coach at Man City for the 2022/23 season, having led their Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title just two years prior.
But Maresca is his own man now, heading up one of Europe’s biggest sides, to the delight of his mentor.
Maresca got plenty of heat from Chelsea fans after the Leeds loss. During his Man City press conference, Guardiola came to the Italian’s defence — but not before making a bold claim.
He said: “One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him quite well, but the job he has done at Chelsea does not get enough credit.
“Winning the Club World Cup, Conference League, qualification for the Champions League in a league that is so tough with a young team. It is exceptional.
“And he rotated and look what happened? You are able to win games, games, games and after you lose, lose, lose. It only happens in this league, in this country. It can happen.”
Maresca made this same rotation point. Maybe it will be more accepted coming from one of football’s great managers. He’s not the only Spanish coach to laud the Chelsea boss this week.
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The Champions League will be a battle of the Pep protegees
If you look at the most highly thought of contenders for this year’s Champions League, it’s quite ridiculous just how many learned the game from the City boss.
Maresca has already faced Mikel Arteta and Vincent Kompany at Bayern. He could yet clash with Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid, Luis Enrique’s PSG, and of course, City themselves.
There are plenty of other sides vying for European glory, but there’s a good chance Guardiola’s fingerprints will be on the trophy in one way or another.
Hopefully, through another Chelsea triumph.
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