Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola needs support after awful spell
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts after his team's 4-2 Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on Jan 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MANCHESTER – Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has rallied around Pep Guardiola and said the struggling Manchester City boss needs support after a run of two wins in seven European games left City’s Champions League knockout-phase hopes under threat.
On Jan 25, Chelsea visit the English Premier League champions, who are fifth in the standings, trailing Maresca's side in fourth by two points, after a dismal run in the lead-up to Christmas.
City are yet to fully emerge from their surprise slump and a 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Jan 22, when they squandered a two-goal lead, has left them outside the Champions League’s play-off places with one game of the league phase remaining.
“Pep is strong enough in this kind of thing. But for sure, like any human being, he needs support in this moment, for the last eight or nine years, they were always on top,” Maresca told reporters on Jan 24.
City are 25th in the Champions League standings and need to finish in the top 24 in order to keep their hopes alive. Guardiola has never failed to reach the competition's knockout stage in his managerial career.
Maresca said that Chelsea will find it difficult to beat City, despite their poor form. The Italian’s side have also suffered a slump and have one win in their last six league games, compared to City’s three.
“With this club and these players, when they are in a difficult moment, they want to show how good they are. I don’t think there is ever a good moment to play City,” he said.
Maresca has a long history with City, having worked as a coach at the club before leaving to helm Parma.
After being sacked by the Italian side, he returned to City to work as an assistant to Guardiola during their treble-winning season in 2022-23 and said he was eternally thankful to the club.
“My relationship with Pep and the club, is fantastic. I will always be thankful to City for the trust they showed in me, he added.
Maresca confirmed midfielder Romeo Lavia will miss the match at City through injury but Enzo Fernandez and Levi Colwill, who missed the 3-1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan 20, could be available.
City, meanwhile, have been strengthened by the January signings of defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov as well as forward Omar Marmoush.
“Vitor is young, he has a huge personality, needs time. If he’s here with us, of course he can start,” said Guardiola on Jan 24.
“Khusanov has already settled for the fact that he played in the French league, handling tough, quick, fast players.
“But he doesn’t speak much English, so communication will be one of the situations that we have to deal with.
“Marmoush, I think he will adapt quick. They will make us strong.” REUTERS
