Man City boss Maresca reveals he met Pep Guardiola after defeat to PSG: ‘We were talking’

Enzo Maresca says Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is Pep Guardiola’s “home” and described his predecessor as “very positive” when the pair met after the Cityzens’ Champions League defeat at home to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Guardiola, who left City after 10 years at the end of last season, made his first appearance at the stadium after the club were found guilty of 114 Premier League infringements, a ruling they have appealed.

“I saw him after the game,” said Maresca, who briefly worked as Guardiola’s assistant from June 2022 before joining Leicester City the following year.

“We were talking about the game. First of all, he was very happy to be in the stadium, then he was very positive about what he saw during the game.

“I said before the game that I think it’s great for the fans to see him in the stadium as well. It will always be his home.”

Man City charges: What did Pep Guardiola say?

Guardiola addressed City fans after the Premier League announced his decision in September.

“Let me be clear,” said the City icon. “We’ll get through this together. I love you all.”

In his latest public comments on the allegations, Guardiola has backed the club’s owners, City Football Group, where he remains a global ambassador.

“I spoke to them and I believe in how they behave and how they do,” the Spaniard said in May, via BBC Sport . “What happened, happened.”

Maresca, who has led City to a three-point lead by winning their opening six league matches, reiterated his faith in the group ahead of City’s visit to 10th-placed Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola: Man City trophies

City became the dominant force in English football for most of Guardiola’s reign, with many believing the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager to have transformed the English game due to his possession-heavy passing style.

Here are the trophies he won with the club.

Enzo Maresca praises Manchester City fans’ bananas

Inflatable bananas were displayed around the stadium during City’s 4-2 defeat by the Europeans, with Maresca’s side struggling to mount a second-half comeback after conceding three goals without reply before the break.

The tradition among City fans dates back to the late 1980s and Maresca suggested he could take one of the inflated items home after a Town game.

“Very nice,” he said of the Italian decorations. “I didn’t know the story behind the banana, I hope [against Town] I see a lot of bananas in the stadium.

“It creates a great environment for the fans and everyone in the stadium.”

Enzo Fernandez: “Manchester City” transfer “good”.

City signed midfielder Enzo Fernandes from Maresca’s former club Chelsea for a Premier League record £125m in September and was involved in a bizarre incident against PSG when the Argentina international shoved referee Sven Jablonski from behind.

When a reporter suggested that Fernandez had shown a fiery temper in the past, the official did not consider the push intentional, and Maresca defended the 25-year-old.

“It’s just a random moment,” Maresca said, adding that Fernandez “didn’t even think” that he was acting maliciously. “It was a bit funny.

“He is a wonderful person with a big heart [and is] polite, professional. Sometimes the image seen from the outside is completely different from the reality.

“He’s a classy guy, and above all, a very nice person. Nice family, mom, dad, wife, kids. I know them all. That’s why. There’s no doubt about it.”

Where to watch Man City vs Ipswich: TV channel, live streaming online

Kick-off on Saturday is 15:00 BST (10:00 ET / 07:00 PT). This match is not broadcast live in England.

Here is the full list of Premier League international broadcasters.

Full updated Premier League schedule

This is what the schedule looks like before the games of the last round of the Premier League begin.