Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has insisted that all clubs must simply "adapt" to the demands of fixture scheduling, speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League Manchester derby — a game in which Manchester City will enjoy a significant rest advantage over Manchester United.

City secured a 2-0 victory over Porto in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, while United did not complete their own European fixture — a 4-0 thrashing of Sabah — until Thursday evening. That 48-hour gap leaves Michael Carrick's side with considerably less time to recover and prepare before the weekend showdown.

A familiar imbalance

Maresca was quick to point out that City themselves faced an identical situation last September, when they played Napoli on a Thursday before facing Arsenal just two days later. On that occasion, Arsenal had played Athletic Club in the early kick-off on Tuesday, banking two extra days of recovery. Former City manager Pep Guardiola memorably joked at the time that he was taking his players "hiking in the mountains" to prepare for the trip to Emirates Stadium.

"The club mentioned to me that it happened exactly the same last year when the club played Napoli and then, after two days, played Arsenal," Maresca told BBC Sport. "Sometimes it happens in football. I don't have any doubt that Man United are going to be ready for that. It just matters to adapt."

Expanded Champions League adds pressure

The reformed UEFA Champions League format now requires clubs to play two additional matches in the league phase before the end of January, piling further strain onto already congested domestic calendars. English clubs must also navigate the Carabao Cup during the same period.

City are due to host Norwich in the third round of the Carabao Cup next Thursday, while United face Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford the evening before.

"I think that happens and you need to adapt," Maresca said when pressed on whether the scheduling pressures balance out across the season. "It happened last year with us, this season with them, next season it will happen with a different team."

First derby for Maresca

Sunday's match will mark Maresca's debut in the Manchester derby as a manager. He has made a formidable start to the Premier League campaign, guiding City to wins in all three of their opening league fixtures. United, by contrast, have gathered just four points from their first three games.

Asked how rival manager Carrick might be feeling about the scheduling situation, Maresca kept his focus firmly inward. "That's a question for Michael. The only thing I can say is it happened and you need to adapt."

On the significance of the derby itself, Maresca was clear: "It is very important for different reasons. We know how important a derby is, especially here. It is a special game. The most important thing we can do is try to be ourselves and then we see the final result."