Maresca shifts focus from personal milestone ahead of Manchester derby
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says Sunday’s derby is about his team, supporters and the league table as City defend their perfect start against Manchester United.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has played down the personal significance of taking charge of his first Manchester derby, saying his priority is maintaining the league leaders’ winning run.
City travel to Manchester United on Sunday after winning all three of their opening Premier League matches. United have won one of their first three and are reported to be five points behind their rivals.
“It’s very important” to win the derby, Maresca told reporters, but he said the match should be viewed as part of City’s broader effort to continue winning.
“To be honest, I’m more thinking about the team, the fans, the table,” Maresca said. “The main focus is not ‘It’s my first derby and I want to win the game.’ For sure, I want to win the game, but it’s because we want to continue to win games.”
Maresca previously worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City. The club has generally finished above United since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, although United won at Old Trafford in Guardiola’s final game there last season.
Maresca also defended midfielder Elliot Anderson’s description of City as the “kings of Manchester”, saying it reflected the club’s dominance during Anderson’s formative years.
