Enzo Maresca Faces Early Scrutiny as Manchester City Sets High Standards

Manchester City have made it clear that their standards remain sky-high under the new management of Enzo Maresca, even though he has only overseen two games so far. The club’s owners expect no drop in performance after Pep Guardiola’s era, which brought six Premier League titles to the Etihad Stadium.

The season began with a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, a match where Guardiola's former team was narrowly outdone by Mikel Arteta's side last year. Despite this rocky start, Maresca’s squad bounced back, claiming six points from their opening league fixtures against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace. That momentum must continue, or else Maresca will face intense scrutiny.

Manchester City’s Recent Premier League Performances

2022-23: City finished first with 89 points; Arsenal second with 84
2023-24: City again topped with 91 points; Arsenal close behind with 89
2024-25: Arsenal claimed the title with 84 points; City placed second with 74
2025-26: City finished second, seven points behind Arsenal

Guardiola’s tenure saw City consistently challenge Arsenal, including victories in domestic cups like the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his final season. Currently, after two league games this term, Manchester City share the top spot with Arsenal, matching points and goal difference but leading by goals scored.

Internal Pressure and Squad Strength

Inside the club, the message is not just about praise for early good results, but a reminder of what is expected. Journalist Simon Bajkowski reports that the club expects Maresca to push harder than Guardiola did in his last season, targeting success in all four competitions.

The squad Maresca inherited is packed with depth across every position, strengthened further by record-breaking transfer moves. The signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea broke British transfer records, while young star Ayyoub Bouaddi joined for nearly £100 million. Another costly acquisition was Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, arriving for £116 million and starting all three of City's opening matches.

Whether Maresca can deliver Premier League and Champions League trophies remains uncertain, but the expectations are unmistakable. If the team falls short, scrutiny will follow.