Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca says there is no time to build the team entirely according to his own vision before the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Maresca was asked whether he would have enough time to shape Manchester City in the manner he wants. His response was clear: “We have no time.”
The comment comes before Manchester City’s opening Premier League fixture, when they will host Bournemouth on Sunday, 23 August. The match is scheduled to begin at 16:00 Moscow time.
Maresca’s answer highlights the limited period available to establish his ideas before competitive football begins. Rather than having an extended period to develop the team gradually, the Manchester City head coach must prepare for an immediate Premier League challenge.
The first match of the season will therefore provide the earliest test of how much of Maresca’s approach can be reflected on the pitch. Manchester City will begin their campaign against Bournemouth, with the fixture marking the starting point of the league schedule for both clubs.
The question put to Maresca focused specifically on whether he would be given time to construct Manchester City according to his preferred vision. His reply suggested that the circumstances do not allow for a long period of adjustment before the team’s first competitive engagement.
With the Bournemouth match taking place on Sunday, the focus is now on the opening round of the Premier League and on Manchester City’s readiness for it. The fixture will be played at 16:00 Moscow time, giving Maresca a defined first deadline in his work with the team.
Maresca’s message was not presented as a detailed account of his plans, but as a direct response to the question of whether time would be available to build the side in his image. The answer, as reflected by the statement that there is no time, sets the tone ahead of the meeting with Bournemouth.
Manchester City will face that match before Maresca has had the opportunity to develop his ideas over a longer period. The Premier League opener will consequently be the first occasion on which the team’s progress can be judged in a competitive setting.
The club’s home fixture against Bournemouth is the only match identified in the report. It is scheduled for Sunday, 23 August, with kick-off at 16:00 Moscow time. For Maresca, the immediate priority is to be ready for that encounter, despite the lack of time he says is available to build Manchester City according to his vision.