Enzo Maresca says “all possibilities are open” regarding Rodri’s future at Manchester City, while refusing to comment on reports linking the club with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Maresca, who is Manchester City’s head coach, was speaking before Sunday’s Community Shield final against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. The match will be his first competitive game in charge of the club at the start of the new season.
“Arsenal have proved over the last few years that they are a consistent and strong competitor. They are a great team built by Mikel Arteta. They have performed amazingly and shown how strong they have been recently. But at the same time, we are Manchester City, and we will try to close the gap and compete strongly,” said Maresca.
The Italian stressed that Manchester City view the Community Shield as a competition rather than a pre-season friendly.
“For me personally, the Community Shield is a competition, and when there is a competition and a final, you always try to win. So it is not a friendly match at all. It is a competition and we will do our best to win it and achieve our first trophy,” he said.
Maresca believes his side have improved throughout their preparations and wants that progress to continue when the season begins.
“It is important that we continue to grow and improve. I think pre-season has been good, and the team has improved from one game to another. Now that pre-season is over, we have to compete, win games and collect trophies,” he added.
“What I want to see is the right spirit to continue developing and the right mentality to win matches and win trophies.”
Rodri and squad changes
Manchester City are going through a period of change, with several long-serving players having left or potentially set to depart.
“We are in a moment of change. Once the transfer window closes, we will have to be ready to find solutions for the team as quickly as possible,” Maresca said.
“We are going through a period in which players who have spent many years here are leaving, or could leave, and that means there is change happening. We will do our best to deal with it.”
Asked about Rodri, Maresca offered no clear indication of whether the midfielder will remain at the club.
“As I have said before, the transfer window is open; we can buy players or sell them, and every possibility is open. I have just seen Rodri inside the building and hugged him warmly. We will see what happens,” he said.
Maresca also discussed the difficulty of persuading players to remain when they have already decided to leave.
“It is quite difficult to convince players to stay when they have already made up their minds to leave. This applies to the situation with Tijjani Reijnders, and perhaps James Trafford and some other players,” he said.
“I think that when the club, the player and the coach agree that the best decision for some players is to leave, then they have to leave.”
His comments indicate there is agreement within Manchester City that Reijnders’ departure is the best outcome for both the player and the club, despite the Netherlands midfielder having joined only last summer.
Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah have agreed to buy Reijnders for £52m, with the transfer expected to be completed in the coming period. Reijnders was with the Manchester City squad on Thursday but did not take part in an open training session at the Manchester City Football Academy.
Enzo Fernandez question
Maresca again declined to discuss Manchester City’s reported interest in Enzo Fernandez, insisting the Chelsea player belongs to another club.
“I have to give you the same answer that I gave from day one, and that answer will always remain the same. He is a player who belongs to another club, and I do not think it is right to talk about other players,” said Maresca.
Asked whether Manchester City would make a move on the day of the news conference, he replied: “Not today, honestly. I don’t think we will make any move today.”
The manager confirmed that Manchester City still expect to make further changes to their squad before the transfer window closes.
“Definitely, there are things we have to do. As for the number, I do not know at the moment. It could be one player or two, and it also depends on whether some players leave the team,” he said.
Maresca added that his immediate priority was the final against Arsenal, rather than transfer activity.
“At this moment, 48 hours before playing a final, which is my first one with this club, my focus is not on players leaving or coming in. All my attention is on how to prepare in the best way for the game and try to win the trophy.”
