Antoine Semenyo backs Enzo Maresca as Manchester City enters post-Guardiola era

Manchester City just did the thing every dynasty dreads: replace the irreplaceable. Enzo Maresca was appointed manager on June 29, 2026, signing a three-year deal that runs through 2029 and officially ending the Pep Guardiola decade. And if forward Antoine Semenyo is any indication, the locker room isn’t panicking.

Semenyo, who joined City in January 2026, has been vocal in pre-season about Maresca’s tactical blueprint. He described the new manager’s approach as “music to my ears,” pointing specifically to a focus on width and creating opportunities from wide positions.

Maresca’s credentials and the continuity play

Maresca isn’t walking in cold. He served as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 season, the campaign where City won the treble: Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup. That shared history is the whole selling point.

The new manager’s tactical philosophy reportedly mirrors Guardiola’s possession-based system while adding specific instructions around wide play. For Semenyo, who originally signed expecting to play under Guardiola, the alignment has been seamless. In pre-season interviews in early August 2026, the forward emphasized how quickly Maresca’s coaching staff got players adjusted to the new system.

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