Follow Pep and find scoring options: Maresca’s Manchester City in-tray

Try to cast off Guardiola’s shadow How Enzo Maresca follows Pep Guardiola is the searing question he has to answer – from fans, pundits, football scribes and, more vitally, where it matters: on the pitch. In 10 era-defining years Guardiola claimed 20 titles (including three Community Shields). Maresca was at his side for the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League of 2022-23. This is one calling card for the players he has to convince to follow him. Another is a single season, 2020-21, in charge of City’s elite development squad when they won the Premier League 2 title. Others are leading Leicester into the Premier League in 2024, and winning with Chelsea the 2025 Conference League and that summer’s Club World Cup with a 3-0 defeat of Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain in the final. Over to you, Enzo. Enter Elliot Anderson, exit Rodri? Rodri is City’s silk-smooth controller of midfield, but will he be on the staff by the end of the summer market? The 29-year-old is offering mixed messages , using the last international window and the World Cup one to be ambivalent, at best, regarding a desire to remain at least until his contract expires in 2027. “I’m very calm, I know exactly where I stand, and I’ll tell you that perhaps if there hadn’t been a World Cup, things might be different now,” he said on Monday. …