Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca will not be heading off on holiday during the international break but his players can
Rico Lewis of Manchester City is substituted for Matheus Nunes of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom, on August 23, 2026. (Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rico Lewis of Manchester City is substituted for Matheus Nunes of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom, on August 23, 2026. (Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Unlike his predecessor, Enzo Maresca will not be using the international break to jet off for as much sun as possible. The Manchester City manager might wish he could follow Pep Guardiola's strategy, but with his kids in school any rest he does have over the next few weeks will be taken locally and worked around the school runs.
Maresca will not be spending more time with his players who have not gone away with their national teams though. As was the case for the last ten years, those stars will be free to spend the break as they please as long as they return to training ahead of the Liverpool game as sharp as they need to be.
As is usually the case at City, there aren't many players in the squad who aren't off representing their countries. Phil Foden and Rico Lewis are not involved with England, Matheus Nunes was surprisingly left out of the Portugal squad, Allan has not been involved at senior level for Brazil and Jeremy Doku has been left out of Belgium's plans given his recent injury.
All of those players will have the next two weeks off to do with as they please, being trusted to get the balance right between time off and staying fit. For some, particularly Doku given his injury, that may include work at the City Football Academy next week to help recovery and rehabilitation but there will not be any group training.
Maresca will start working with those players again in the week before the Liverpool game, and those who have been on international duty will return to Manchester as and when their schedule allows. It is expected that everyone will be back by Thursday ahead of the trip to Anfield on Sunday.