Enzo Maresca praises Pep Guardiola as a ‘Genius’

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, describing him not as just a manager, but a “genius” who sets himself apart from the rest.

Maresca, who previously worked under Guardiola during his two-year stint at City, shared these thoughts ahead of the Premier League’s return this weekend.

Reflecting on their recent encounter, Maresca faced his former boss in Chelsea’s opening game of the season at Stamford Bridge, where Guardiola’s City secured a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic.

After the match, Maresca spoke highly of Guardiola’s influence on his coaching career, comparing him to other managerial greats he has worked with, including Carlo Ancelotti, Marcello Lippi, and Manuel Pellegrini.

“I’ve had the fortune of working with some of the best in the world – Ancelotti, Lippi, Pellegrini – but Pep is different,” Maresca said. “I don’t see him as a manager. I see him as a genius because he’s always ahead of the rest.”

Maresca, who served as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City before taking over at Chelsea, emphasized how much he learned during his time with the Spanish tactician, stating: “When you’re close to someone like Pep, you see things differently. You try to understand his ideas and shape your own coaching philosophy.”

The Chelsea boss acknowledged that he draws from his experiences with all his former managers but admitted Guardiola’s influence stands out the most. “I try to take a bit from all of them, but Pep’s vision is on another level. He’s constantly pushing the boundaries of football,” Maresca added.

Since their defeat to City, Chelsea have shown signs of improvement, winning one and drawing one of their next two matches. With new signings like Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer beginning to settle in, there’s growing confidence that Maresca can lead Chelsea back to top form, even though they missed out on signing striker Victor Osimhen on deadline day.