David Moyes ally shares Man City claim after Enzo Maresca deal agreed

Enzo Maresca will face pressure to immediately start winning games at Manchester City following his appointment as Pep Guardiola's replacement.

That is the opinion of former senior Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

The Italian's arrival was finally confirmed last week, despite it having emerged that he would be the first choice for decision-makers at the Etihad Stadium all the way back in January.

Maresca left Chelsea by mutual consent after it had emerged that discussions had already taken place with his former club, with both Man City and the manager agreeing to pay compensation.

The 46-year-old spent a year as Guardiola's assistant in the treble-winning 2022-23 season and has been viewed as his replacement for some time, although it was not confirmed that the Spaniard would leave until May.

Maresca now faces the potentially poisoned chalice of replacing a long-term manager, as David Moyes did with Sir Alex Ferguson and Unai Emery with Arsene Wenger.

Bryan King gives Enzo Maresca advice

Expectations will be high for Maresca, particularly as he is replacing arguably the greatest manager of all time.

Guardiola won 20 major trophies in a decade at Man City, and will go down among the most successful managers to ever grace the English game.

The Italian will also be working against a trend of struggles following the departure of a long-term manager.

Moyes was sacked less than a year after replacing Ferguson at Manchester United, and Emery did not last much longer at Arsenal after replacing Wenger.

Arne Slot stands out as the main exception to the rule after he won the Premier League in his first season after replacing Jurgen Klopp, but he has now been sacked following a terrible second campaign.

"He's got to get up and running from day one because if you don't, it'll be a David Moyes situation and it'll be the managers that followed David Moyes at Man United. You'll be having that situation," King told Football Insider.

"He has got to be winning matches from day one. He's got to show that the way he does things are the way Pep done thing because, to replace somebody who's achieved what he's achieved.

"To me, personally, he can't be replaced. But there can certainly be somebody who can carry on with what he's achieved."

What will happen if Maresca does not get off to the right start

Man City have attempted to throw their full support behind Maresca this summer, with Elliot Anderson having already arrived on a £116million deal with more to follow.

But that pressure on the Italian is only increasing, and a poor start to the season could place him in a tricky position.

King said: "If he don't get up and running from day one and put Manchester City in first or second place, the first thing that happens is the players have become unsure.

"And when the players become unsure, the shape of the team becomes unsure. Then the supporters become unsure. And then it goes back to the board again. 'Have we made the right decision?'

"'Can we ever replace Pep?' 'Who would replace Pep?' It's a very difficult one."