Pep Guardiola defends Enzo Maresca after Chelsea’s pre-season defeat to City

Pep Guardiola have come to the defense of his former assistant, Enzo Maresca, following Manchester City’s 4-2 win over Chelsea.

The Blues on Saturday lost to their Premier League’s rivals in a pre-season friendly at Ohio Stadium, Columbus.

City, led by Erling Haaland’s hat-trick, took an early 4-0 lead, with Chelsea scoring two late goals through Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke.

Despite Chelsea’s defensive errors involving Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Moises Caicedo, and Sterling, Guardiola attributed the mistakes to the pitch conditions rather than Maresca’s tactics.

“I want to say something. It’s happened due to the pitch conditions.

“In normal conditions, that would not happen. At Stamford Bridge, that would not happen. That’s for sure,” Guardiola asserted.

Guardiola praised Maresca’s coaching vision: “I saw what Enzo wants to do and I like it. I don’t make a compliment because he’s my friend and helped me for the year of the treble.

“But I saw today many things that I know he is going to do,” he added.

Guardiola emphasized that expecting immediate success was unrealistic and expressed confidence in Maresca’s future achievements with Chelsea.