Soccer-Semenyo backs Maresca to succeed as Man City enter post-Guardiola era

Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo expects a smooth transition under new manager Enzo Maresca, citing similarities in philosophy to Pep Guardiola's previous regime.

Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo has told ‌Reuters ​he expects little to change at the club despite Enzo Maresca's arrival as manager marking the end of a trophy-laden era under Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola stood down from the role in May after a 10-year reign at the ‌Etihad Stadium in which he led the club to six Premier League titles with Maresca returning to City having worked for a season as the Spaniard's assistant. "I think the transition now with Maresca, he's obviously been with the City Group before, so he's not unfamiliar with them," said Semenyo, speaking at Ahmad Tea's ‌Preparation is Everything event in Hong Kong.

"Everyone just has to adjust. Everyone has to buy into what his philosophy is, and it's not far ‌off what Pep was doing last season for us. I'm looking forward to the seasons to come with him, and everyone's enjoying it so far." Maresca has taken over six months after an acrimonious departure from Chelsea, who he guided to the Club World Cup title last year having previously led Leicester City to a Premier League promotion in his one year ⁠with the club.

He ​takes over a City side who ⁠finished second in the Premier League last season and won the FA Cup and League Cup with Semenyo entering his first full campaign with the club after joining in January from ⁠Bournemouth. THIRD DIFFERENT MANAGER

Guardiola's departure means the Ghana international will be working under his third different manager in the past year having started last season under Andoni Iraola, who ​has since left Bournemouth to take over at Liverpool. "I have no choice but to adapt to the managers," said Semenyo. "Obviously, Iraola was high ⁠pressing, everything was about work ethic.

"Coming to Pep, it was a lot more ball dominant and, to be fair with Maresca, it's quite similar. So I don't think there's too much change ⁠in ​that sense. "We've got a team; everyone's adjusting as well as myself, and everyone's gonna buy into it, and hopefully we can be successful off the back of that."

Semenyo signed for City after an impressive first half of the 2025-26 season with Bournemouth, in which he scored 10 times in ⁠21 appearances and helped Ghana qualify for the World Cup. He maintained that form after his switch, netting another 11 times in 27 matches in all ⁠competitions.

"I would say it was amazing with ⁠him," Semenyo said of his spell working under Guardiola. "He's obviously known as one of the best managers in the world, and you can see why. "Every day his meetings, his attention to detail, just like his player management, everything ‌was amazing, and he ‌helped me so much in those five, six months with my game."