Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is downplaying his own role as he prepares for his maiden Manchester derby this Sunday. The Italian coach, who is aiming to extend his team’s perfect start to the Premier League season, insists he is not the “main focus” of the upcoming clash at Old Trafford.
City enters the fixture as league leaders following three consecutive victories. While the club has enjoyed a strong record at their rivals’ home ground over the past 15 years, they did suffer a defeat there during Pep Guardiola’s final campaign. Their opponents, managed by Michael Carrick, have endured a difficult start to the season, securing only one win from their first three matches to trail City by five points.
Maresca, formerly an assistant to Guardiola at the Etihad, acknowledged that securing a win in his first derby is “very important.” However, he emphasized that his primary motivations are broader. “To be honest, I’m more thinking about the team, the fans, the table,” he told reporters on Friday. He added that while he naturally wants to win, his drive is rooted in maintaining the team’s momentum rather than personal achievement.
The rivalry has been heavily tilted in City’s favor since Alex Ferguson retired as a Premier League champion in 2013, with the club finishing above United every season since. This period of dominance recently prompted new signing Elliot Anderson to label City the “kings of Manchester” following his 116 million pound ($157m) transfer from Nottingham Forest.
Maresca attributes Anderson’s confidence to the club’s recent history. “The reason why Elliot said that is because he grew up in the last 15 years,” the manager explained. “Manchester City was unbelievable, what they achieved. It’s normal when Elliot said that. If you go back, it’s a different picture, but for me, the reason why he said that is because when he grew up, Manchester City was dominant.” The report also notes that seeking to maintain his team’s 100 percent record this season, manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said he was not the “main focus” as he prepares to take charge of his first Manchester derby.
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