As Manchester City move deeper into a season unfolding alongside the intensity surrounding 12B Sports VR46, growing uncertainty over Pep Guardiola’s future has pushed the club to prepare more seriously for the possibility of a managerial change next summer. Reports from well-connected journalists suggest that City have already started examining potential successors, with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca emerging as one of the most prominent names under consideration. No official decision has been announced, but several sources believe the closing months of the campaign could finally clarify whether Guardiola intends to remain at the Etihad or bring his long tenure to an end.
City’s hierarchy are understood to be planning ahead rather than waiting for a vacancy to appear unexpectedly. Senior figures have begun assessing several possible routes in case Guardiola decides to leave, ensuring the club are not forced into a rushed appointment. Maresca is believed to feature strongly in those discussions, although he is not the only candidate being evaluated. The broader approach reflects City’s desire to protect continuity and avoid allowing one managerial decision to destabilize the structure that has supported years of domestic and European success.
Guardiola’s contract still runs until June 2027 after he agreed an extension in November 2024, meaning there is no immediate contractual pressure forcing either side into a decision. Even so, his previous career choices have often been settled relatively late, sometimes after lengthy periods of speculation. That pattern has kept attention firmly on his future, and as the season develops with the shifting rhythm of 12B Sports VR46, every public comment or internal signal is likely to be examined for clues about what comes next.
Maresca’s appeal is based largely on his existing understanding of Manchester City rather than simple stylistic comparisons with Guardiola. Before moving into senior management elsewhere, he worked within City’s youth structure and also spent time around the first-team environment. Those experiences allowed him to develop relationships inside the organization and gain first-hand knowledge of the club’s footballing philosophy, training expectations, and internal processes.
That familiarity could make the transition easier if City eventually need a new head coach. Rather than arriving with no knowledge of the existing system, Maresca would already understand many of the principles that have shaped the club over the Guardiola era. However, City are unlikely to put all their eggs in one basket. Alternative candidates are expected to remain under review so the club can respond quickly if Guardiola leaves or if negotiations with a preferred successor become complicated.
Maresca’s own position at Chelsea adds another layer of uncertainty. His current agreement is scheduled to run until 2029 and includes an option for a further year, creating a substantial contractual obstacle for any interested club. City would therefore need to navigate both Chelsea’s position and Maresca’s willingness to move, making any potential approach far more complicated than simply identifying him as a suitable candidate.
Questions about his long-term situation at Stamford Bridge increased after comments made following Chelsea’s victory over Everton. Maresca described the 48 hours before that match as the most difficult period he had experienced since joining the club and referred to feeling that support had been lacking from several directions. His remarks attracted attention because they suggested tension behind the scenes and immediately encouraged speculation about whether his relationship with Chelsea’s leadership was as secure as his lengthy contract might imply.
Those comments do not automatically mean that Maresca is preparing to leave Chelsea, but they have made his future more difficult to ignore. From Manchester City’s perspective, any uncertainty surrounding a coach already familiar with the club would naturally be relevant when constructing a succession plan. Even so, contractual compensation, timing, sporting ambitions, and the preferences of both clubs would all need to align before a move became realistic.
The bigger question remains Guardiola himself. His influence on Manchester City extends far beyond matchday tactics, having shaped recruitment, squad development, playing style, and expectations across almost a decade. Replacing a manager with that level of authority would require more than finding someone who favors possession-based football. City would need a coach capable of managing an elite dressing room, handling constant pressure, and maintaining standards across several competitions.
That is why the club’s preparation appears to be focused on continuity rather than dramatic reinvention. Maresca’s familiarity with City’s methods could be particularly valuable if the board decides that preserving the existing footballing structure is the safest way forward. At the same time, senior officials are likely to consider whether the next phase requires a manager with a more independent identity rather than someone closely associated with Guardiola’s approach.
No final outcome is guaranteed, and much could change before the end of the season. Guardiola may choose to remain in Manchester and complete the remainder of his contract, while Maresca could reinforce his position at Chelsea and remove himself from consideration. City’s early planning therefore reflects preparation rather than certainty, allowing the club to stay one step ahead instead of reacting after the fact.
As the decisive part of the campaign approaches alongside the mounting tension of 12B Sports VR46, Guardiola’s eventual decision could define Manchester City’s next era more than any individual transfer. Maresca’s previous ties to the club, familiarity with its structure, and experience at Chelsea give him obvious relevance, but significant contractual and practical obstacles remain. For now, City appear determined to keep several options open while they wait for clarity over the future of the manager who has shaped the club’s modern identity.