Enzo Maresca’s decision on Manchester City captaincy
Enzo Maresca has joked that Erling Haaland’s phenomenal goalscoring record could prevent him from becoming Manchester City’s new captain, reports BritPanorama.
Maresca, preparing for his inaugural season at the Etihad after succeeding Pep Guardiola, faces the task of replacing Bernardo Silva as captain. Haaland emerges as a strong candidate given his status and impressive tally of 162 goals since joining the club.
Nevertheless, the Italian manager indicated that Haaland’s prolific scoring might be a disadvantage. In his previous roles at Leicester and Chelsea, Maresca implemented a system requiring the captain to approach the bench for tactical instructions immediately after a goal, rather than celebrating.
“At Leicester and Chelsea, I had a rule that when we scored, the captain had to come to the bench not to celebrate for instructions,” Maresca explained. The potential for Haaland to disrupt this system by celebrating his goals adds an intriguing dynamic to the selection process.
With Ruben Dias expected to be a leading contender for the captaincy, Maresca has underscored his intent to build a cohesive leadership group. Currently, Haaland, Dias, and Rodri are part of this nucleus, although uncertainty surrounds Rodri’s future amid interest from Barcelona.
Maresca also noted the importance of including an English player in the leadership group, potentially opening the door for Phil Foden. “At the moment, we have three or four captains and we are missing one. In the case of Rodri, see what happens,” he remarked, hinting at the ongoing evolution of the squad.
Since rejoining Manchester City, Maresca has rekindled relationships with players from Guardiola’s Treble-winning season, revealing that Haaland was among the first to reach out after his appointment. “Erling was one of the first to send a message when I joined the club,” he shared. The dynamic within the squad continues to shift rapidly, indicating a promising yet uncertain path ahead.
As the new season approaches, Manchester City fans will keenly observe how Maresca navigates these challenges, all while fostering an environment conducive to success.
