A new chapter has opened at the Etihad Stadium. For the first time in a decade, Manchester City begin a Premier League campaign under a manager who is not Pep Guardiola — and the man tasked with filling those formidable boots is Enzo Maresca.

Enormous expectations for a new era

Guardiola's decade in Manchester was extraordinary by any measure: 20 trophies in 10 years, built on a brand of football that consistently dazzled. His departure leaves a void that few managers in world football could credibly address. Maresca, however, is not arriving cold. The Italian served on Guardiola's coaching staff across two spells and was credited — among other things — with proposing the tactical adjustment that sent John Stones into midfield during the treble-winning 2022-23 season.

Maresca also arrives with silverware of his own. His 18 months managing Chelsea were frequently turbulent off the pitch, yet he guided the club to the 2025 UEFA Conference League title and the FIFA Club World Cup — tangible proof that he knows how to win.

A squad rebuilt around youth and firepower

The squad Maresca inherits is loaded with talent across every age group. Nico O'Reilly, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Rayan Cherki are each 21 or 22, while £116 million signing Elliot Anderson is 23. That youthful core sits alongside Erling Haaland, who has plundered 162 goals in just 198 City appearances and arrives at the 2026-27 season having claimed the Premier League Golden Boot with 38 goals in all competitions the previous term. His combination of finishing, strength, pace, and aggression makes him arguably the most feared centre-forward in the world.

The experience of Bernardo Silva and Stones — both now departed — will be missed, and the fitness and form of Rodri will be critical. City are a measurably different side when the Spanish midfielder is absent.

Lessons from last season

Manchester City finished second in the Premier League last term, surrendering the title to Arsenal after a damaging run of four defeats in their first 12 matches — including yet another loss to Tottenham Hotspur, the 10th such defeat under Guardiola. That early stumble handed Arsenal an insurmountable advantage.

City responded with a 15-match unbeaten run through the spring, and salvaged some pride with an FA Cup and League Cup double. But without the creative brilliance of Kevin De Bruyne, who thrived in those crucial springtime run-ins, it was ultimately not enough. A sharper start is the clearest lesson Maresca can take from that campaign.

One to watch

Keep an eye on 18-year-old Ryan McAidoo, a nimble winger who scored on his debut in the FA Cup. With a large contingent of City players absent for pre-season following the World Cup — the club sent a competition-high 17 representatives to the tournament — McAidoo has an opportunity to make an impression early.

The road ahead

City's fixture list includes home matches against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal — as well as a testing away trip to Anfield in May. The opening fixture pits them against Bournemouth at home on 23 August, with a visit to Crystal Palace following six days later.

Bookmakers place City at 3/1 to win the Premier League title. A second-place finish is considered the most likely outcome by many observers, but Maresca's tactical creativity and the depth of the squad suggest that assessment may yet be revised upward as the season unfolds.