The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Ornstein Exclusive: City Target Maresca to Replace Guardiola
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Adam Leventhal
Key Contributors: David Ornstein, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Oli Kay, Simon Johnson

Overview

This episode tackles a seismic piece of football news: Manchester City are making contingency plans for life after Pep Guardiola, with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca now high on their list of potential replacements. The Athletic's top journalists dissect how we got here, Maresca's suitability, City’s succession strategy, and what it all means for Chelsea and the Premier League landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ornstein Exclusive: Maresca High on City's List

• Ornstein’s Scoop:

  • Man City are "advancing contingency planning" for Pep’s potential departure at the end of the season, even though his contract runs until 2027.
  • Enzo Maresca is a standout internal candidate due to his “admired status” within City from two previous stints (youth and first-team under Guardiola) and recent managerial successes at Leicester and Chelsea.
  • City's process includes other names, but the step-up in their planning is “quite significant” considering Guardiola’s uncertainty.
  • Maresca’s cryptic comments at Chelsea (“not feeling supported”) and his new agent raise further intrigue.

  "Within that contingency planning, Maresca is believed to figure prominently… he does have a lot of support, from what I hear."
  — David Ornstein [02:08]

2. Is Pep Really Leaving? Speculation and Succession

• The Guardiola Watch:

  • Jack Pitt-Brooke recalls how rumours regarding Guardiola’s exit have swirled for years, but this is the strongest sign yet.
  • Discussion on Pep’s legacy: the current City is “as strong as ever” and rebuilt “in his image,” making his eventual exit massive.

  “Speculation about ‘will this be Guardiola's last season’ has really been par for the course… but right now, City are probably in the best shape they've been.”
  — Jack Pitt-Brooke [04:48]

3. Maresca: Surprise Candidate or Logical Heir?

• Jump Between Big Six Clubs Is Rare:

  • Moving directly between two major Premier League sides by a manager is almost unprecedented, making this possible switch major “box office.”
  • Maresca’s rise has included silverware with Chelsea (Conference League, Club World Cup) but also public frustrations; debate over whether his outbursts are power plays or signs of deeper issues.

  “It would always be unusual for a manager to move from one big six Premier League team to another… I can't think of a precedent.”
  — Jack Pitt-Brooke [06:11]

4. The Maresca–Chelsea Saga

• Cryptic Quotes and Uncertainty:

  • Adam Leventhal highlights Maresca’s recent news-making claim: his “worst 48 hours in football” and that he didn’t feel supported.
  • Oli Kay and Simon Johnson discuss whether Maresca’s comments are tactical (for leverage) or reveal real unrest.

  “Everything I've been told is that this outburst of his last Saturday after the Everton game caught virtually everyone by surprise, apart from the man himself.”
  — Simon Johnson [28:41]

5. City’s Approach to Succession: Pep’s Influence?

• The Search Model:

  • Comparing the succession processes at United (Ferguson hand-picking), Arsenal (committee), and Liverpool (combination).
  • Expectation is that City won’t let Pep hand-pick but will “stick to their process,” looking for someone who fits with CFG’s footballing philosophy.
  • City’s preference for coaches with existing links (Arteta, Kompany previously considered; now Maresca).
  • Chelsea’s current model: club structure matters more than the coach; they can replace managers without drama.

  “I'd expect Manchester City...to steer well away from that idealistic notion of manager handpicks his own successor. I don't think that can ever really work.”
  — Oli Kay [16:53]

6. Strategic Fit: Do City Need a ‘Juggernaut’ or a ‘System Guy’?

• The consensus: because Guardiola has built a dominant structure, City may want a successor who can maintain the framework over an outsized celebrity manager.

  “It would make more sense to have somebody who comes in and knows the system and knows how the club operates and can keep things moving smoothly.”
  — Jack Pitt-Brooke [22:25]

7. Potential Disruption: Upcoming City vs. Chelsea Clash

• The January fixture between the two clubs now has “extra subplot,” with media speculation expected to dominate the build-up but both teams likely to keep their focus on football.

  “It will definitely dominate the pre-match press conferences.”
  — Jack Pitt-Brooke [15:37]

8. Maresca’s Suitability and the Guardiola Effect

• Oli Kay points out Maresca’s “streaky” Chelsea tenure: periods of achievement mixed with inconsistency and doubts over stability.

• Broader trend: Many of Europe’s current top managers are Guardiola proteges or inspired by his methods (Arteta, Kompany, Xabi Alonso, etc.), but none have matched Pep’s level yet.

• City’s next appointment will be “seismic”—the first in a decade.

  “It feels like his influence is so enormous that there are these many kind of Pep Guardiola clones almost emerging. And I think the difficulty...is that I don't think any of them are likely to be as good as him.”
  — Oli Kay [30:00]

9. The 115 Manchester City Charges—A Factor?

• Ornstein says in all his reporting, the legal case has not been cited as a factor in Guardiola’s future or in City’s managerial planning.

  “The only thing I can say from all of my conversations around this topic is that that hasn't come up once.... It really does feel sort of business as usual.”
  — David Ornstein [34:21]

10. What Next for Maresca and Chelsea?

• Simon Johnson speculates Maresca may leave Chelsea at season’s end, depending on opportunities, but notes Chelsea are structured to move on smoothly if needed.

• If City want Maresca, Chelsea would face a tough decision, balancing their model against prestige and rivalry.

  “I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves. I think you have to be very careful when you play these kind of games.... It feels like Chelsea could sort of say, well, we'll just find someone a bit like with Pochettino.”
  — Simon Johnson [36:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the drama of the story:
  “If it was on Facebook, it would be: It’s Complicated at the moment.”
  — Adam Leventhal [04:26]

• On Maresca’s working relationship with Chelsea:
  “He does have a lot of support, from what I hear… the added element… is the bizarre, slightly cryptic recent comments by Maresca at Chelsea…”
  — David Ornstein [02:08]

• On the uniqueness of this potential move:
  “It would always be unusual for a manager to move from one big six Premier League team to another…”
  — Jack Pitt-Brooke [06:11]

• On the wider Guardiola ‘dynasty’:
  “You look across European football now, and this absolutely speaks volumes for the influence of Guardiola… there are these many kind of Pep Guardiola wannabes…”
  — Oli Kay [30:00]

• On the club structure at Chelsea:
  “If anything, the structure is the power and the head coach is just there to coach the team.”
  — Simon Johnson [27:09]

• On City’s approach to the legal charges:
  “It really does feel sort of business as usual and they can't go any other way, that they're absolutely adamant that they will be vindicated...”
  — David Ornstein [34:21]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:08] Ornstein details City’s contingency planning and Maresca’s prominence.
• [04:48] Jack Pitt-Brooke’s reaction to Guardiola succession speculation and Maresca as a candidate.
• [06:41] Discussion of managerial moves between big Premier League clubs.
• [07:38] Analyzing Maresca’s cryptic Chelsea comments and contract situation.
• [08:06] Ornstein on verifying City’s interest and Maresca’s growing assertiveness.
• [15:37] Discussion on the City v Chelsea fixture and potential disruption.
• [16:53] Oli Kay on succession models and manager influence.
• [22:25] What qualities are most important in City’s next manager.
• [27:09] Simon Johnson on the Chelsea perspective and internal dynamics.
• [30:00] Oli Kay on Maresca’s fit and the “Guardiola coaching tree.”
• [34:21] Ornstein addresses the City legal charges and their (non)impact.
• [36:42] Simon Johnson forecasts Maresca’s likely fate at Chelsea.

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a deep dive into Manchester City’s quiet planning for the post-Guardiola era, with Enzo Maresca unexpectedly at the center of succession speculation—propelled by his connections, achievements, and recent unrest at Chelsea. The saga throws up major questions about stability, legacy, and ambition at two of England’s footballing giants, all wrapped in the intrigue of modern club structures and the enduring shadow of Pep Guardiola.

For breaking updates and more expert analysis, listen to The Athletic FC Podcast or visit The Athletic.