PA Media/DPA
London
Pep Guardiola insisted he could not take any credit for his former assistant Enzo Maresca’s success as a manager.
The pair will go head-to-head on Sunday in Maresca’s first game as Chelsea boss when City launch their bid for a record-extending fifth-successive Premier League crown at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca helped City win the treble under Guardiola in 2022-23 and – after winning the Championship title in his first season as Leicester manager – the Italian replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea in June.
Guardiola said: “The job Enzo has done in Leicester belongs absolutely to him, his backroom staff and his players.
“My influence on Leicester being promoted to the Premier League again is zero. Zero.
“I didn’t score one goal, I didn’t save anything, I didn’t have any idea. I’ve said many times, with my staff, it’s not just one direction, the information.
“I give the info, but they give it to me too and I learn from them too. It is back and forth.
“It’s not just about what I’m saying, it’s on both sides and the success of the (Leicester) people together belongs absolutely to them.”
City will start the defence of their title without Euro 2024 winner Rodrigo and Norway winger Oscar Bobb, but Guardiola confirmed every other player in his first-team squad had a chance of featuring at Stamford Bridge.
Rodrigo is not match fit after sustaining a thigh injury in Spain’s European Championship final triumph against England last month, while Bobb had surgery on Friday after sustaining a leg fracture this week in training.
Kalvin Phillips’ season-long loan to Ipswich was confirmed on Friday, but Guardiola appeared to have opened the door to Portugal defender Joao Cancelo extending his stay at the club.
A permanent move back to Barcelona has not materialised for Cancelo after he spent last season on loan with the Spanish club, while he finished the previous campaign on loan at Bayern Munich.
“He’s training with us. We will see. Maybe stay, maybe go on loan. I don’t know yet,” said Guardiola.
“He’s behaving really well in the training sessions. He loves to play football. We will see.”
When asked if he could appear for City again this season, Guardiola added: “It can happen. It depends on his agents and the club.
“In the end, if he has to stay, we will treat him like all the other players, like we have done since I have been here, with respect and try to make the best of his huge qualities.
“I have never doubted his qualities for one second - but I don’t know what is going to happen.”
