Maresca: Haaland a Candidate for Man City Captain; PSG's Power Lies in Their Ability to Beat Defenders

2026-08-11

In Seoul, South Korea, Manchester City head coach Maresca engaged in a comprehensive hour-long discussion with accompanying reporters, delving into captaincy selections, the evolution of football tactics, and communication with Guardiola among other compelling topics. As he contemplates potential captains for the upcoming season, Haaland has emerged as a significant candidate.

“Haaland is quite a good option,” Maresca stated. “When I was coaching Leicester City and Chelsea, I had a rule: after scoring, the captain should return to the bench instead of celebrating, as he needs to listen for instructions. But if the captain is Haaland, that could be a challenge; can you imagine his celebrations? Even if just for a moment, there will definitely be adjustments needed. Right now, we have three or four candidates, but we still need one more.”

During the interview, Maresca not only shared his experiences working at Manchester City and his views on the modern Premier League but also touched on lighter subjects. For instance, the team spontaneously sang their entrance song at the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong; although he didn’t join in, the atmosphere was filled with joy. He described, “Seven coaches attempted to liven things up with singing, but it clearly didn’t work out well.”

While Maresca might come off as somewhat serious in public, he is actually a warm and humorous individual. On his first day at Manchester City, his friendliness and relaxed demeanor left a deep impression on the staff. According to sources close to the team, the mood during this trip to China was notably more laid-back compared to the stringent management experienced under Guardiola.

Maresca pointed out that in recent seasons, the style of the Premier League has increasingly leaned towards physicality, with the diamond formation he oversees reflecting this trend to some extent. “Nowadays, the changes in set-piece offense and defense in Premier League matches are significant, with all teams fiercely competing in tactical man-marking.”

He is optimistic about the future of playing styles, mentioning that he watches many matches to analyze responses to man-marking and to learn new techniques and tactics in football. Analyzing Paris Saint-Germain's success, he noted, “Over the past few years, their strength lies in having numerous players capable of beating defenders one-on-one. Wing-backs like Achraf and Nuno Mendes are particularly adept at this skill.”

Ultimately, Maresca takes a cautious stance on the future tactical direction of the Premier League, believing that while man-marking is currently prevalent, this trend cannot last indefinitely. He is confident that top clubs will develop new tactical ideas to adapt to increasingly complex match situations.