Manchester City fan-favourite Joe Hart believes the pressure on new manager Enzo Maresca will come from outside the building.
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Maresca has inherited an enormous task at the Etihad Stadium, charged with succeeding Pep Guardiola after the Catalan brought the curtain down on a trophy-laden decade in charge.
That handover has coincided with a summer of sweeping change, with City having briefly broken the transfer record for an English player to land Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, only to now face losing iconic midfielder Rodri to Barcelona.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder, has arrived from Lille for €100 million, while the Blues retain a strong interest in Chelsea’s Argentina international Enzo Fernandez to further reshape their engine room.
Maresca was handed a difficult first taste of life in the City dugout in a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in Cardiff a few weeks ago but subsequent Premier League wins over Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have given the Italian and his side early momentum.
Enzo Maresca has suggested Manchester City may still require further reinforcements before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, revealing the squad size he wants to work with.cityxtra.co.ukEnzo Maresca Hints Man City May Need More Signings Ahead of Transfer Deadline
Enzo Maresca has suggested Manchester City may still require further reinforcements before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, revealing the squad size he wants to work with.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, Hart - a former City and England goalkeeper who won two Premier League titles during his time at the club - offered a measured take on the scrutiny awaiting the new regime.
Hart: The noise will always be there externally
Hart is adamant that City, as an organisation, are approaching this transitional period with clear eyes rather than unrealistic demands.
“I think the club isn’t heaping massive expectation on this season," he said. "I think they still believe that they’ve got the team and they’ve got the quality to challenge.
"I still feel they’ll want to be pushing on all fronts. But the same sort of pressure, as an organisation, I don’t think will be on this season. I don’t think they’re going to be put under that pressure internally.”
Manchester City ran out 4-1 victors against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday night to make it six points from six for Enzo Maresca in the Premier League.
cityxtra.co.uk Five Things Learned: Crystal Palace 1-4 Man City (Premier League) Manchester City ran out 4-1 victors against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday night to make it six points from six for Enzo Maresca in the Premier League.
Where the strain will be felt, the 39-year-old argued, is from beyond the club’s walls, with any early stumble likely to invite a pile-on that City’s dominance has long provoked.
“Externally, there’s always going to be the noise," Hart added. "Maresca will come immediately under fire in terms of how people want to jump all over Man City if they do struggle.
"Internally, I think they’re intelligent enough as a business to understand that what’s going on right now is going to be difficult.”
What did Hart say about Rodri?
That difficulty is only compounded by the looming exit of Rodri, with Hart leaving little doubt as to the scale of the void the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner would leave behind by describing the midfield anchor as simply “irreplaceable”.
Manchester City have confirmed the departure of legendary defensive midfielder Rodri for FC Barcelona after a stellar seven-season stay at the Etihad Stadium.cityxtra.co.ukRodri Leaves Manchester City For FC Barcelona After Seven Seasons
Manchester City have confirmed the departure of legendary defensive midfielder Rodri for FC Barcelona after a stellar seven-season stay at the Etihad Stadium.
Few would argue with the assessment, given the Spaniard’s status as perhaps the finest holding midfielder in world football and the tone-setter at the base of City’s side throughout much of their period of dominance.
For all the upheaval, Hart’s message brings some much-needed perspective to the conversation. City remain a club with plenty of quality both on and off the pitch, even if the wider football world proves less patient.
As Maresca sets about steering the Blues into a new era, the noise from outside is unlikely to quieten - but the man between the posts for two of City’s title triumphs is convinced that his former club have the tools to weather the storm.