What Enzo Maresca’s final words at Leicester City reveal to the new manager

When Leicester City’s new manager takes over, they will be looking to build on the success of Enzo Maresca. And before I set foot under the desk at Seagrave, there’s a lot I can learn about the club through Maresca’s final words to management. Here are some key Italian quotes on hot topics.

Maresca on finance and point deductions

Any future new manager knows that they are walking into a club that is not in the best position off the pitch. City have been charged by the Premier League for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and the penalty could be a points deduction.

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Maresca initially avoided answering questions about potential sanctions and the club’s finances, insisting that his job was to train the players and that he would leave the rest to the lawyers. But speaking in Italy a few weeks ago, he delivered some bad news.

“The relegation has left a huge economic hole and unfortunately we risk sanctions,” Maresca told Gazzetta dello Sport. “There is a possibility that next season they will pick up some points, as they did at Everton and Nottingham Forest this year.”

Maresca about transfers and sales of players

Not only are City waiting to hear about the ramifications of their possible breach for the three-year cycle until 2023, but they are also trying to avoid more PSR issues in the future. That means selling players before accounts close later this month and limited transfer business to prepare for the Premier League takeover.

Maresca said a few weeks ago, regarding the possibility of strengthening the team, that “obviously the market will be discreet”. But as for the players leaving, he was not resigned to his team being weakened.

He said after the final game of the season: “If we’re losing important players, it’s important to bring in important players. It is not a problem if we have to sell players to solve any problem. But it’s important that we can then bring in players.”

Maresca about internal communication

One topic that could be addressed by any potential manager with the club’s hierarchy is the issue of internal communication. After City won the league title, Maresca very quickly requested sit-down talks with the club’s directors on issues he “didn’t like”.

They can be summed up as a lack of communication. Maresca was frustrated that he was not told until the January window opened that City had to sell before they could buy. And he was particularly unhappy with the lack of openness about the club’s financial situation, with the Italian claiming that he was not warned of the possibility of a PSR breach.

Maresca received those talks after the season ended and it appeared those issues were addressed. But the fact that there were problems in the first place will be on the mind of a new manager.

He said in May: “Nobody mentioned to me in January that we wouldn’t be able to bring in players. The same happened with financial fair play. Nobody at the club mentioned to me when I signed that there might be a problem. I think it’s not the right thing to do. I think it will be a while to sit and understand why they didn’t mention me.

“I’m in charge of this club as a manager, I need things to work well. For me, there are things that we need to clarify and we need to change.

“I’m not asking for more control. I’m just asking to be able to do the job I’m paid to do. Not more than that. There are just things that happen that I didn’t like during the season. Wait and clarify.”

Maresca to Premier League expectations

Although impressed by his team’s hard work and how quickly they adapted to his tactics, Maresca did not advance. While there have been several teams promoted from the Championship and immediately finished in the top half of the Premier League, City will not be one of them, he insisted. Any incoming manager must expect some cheating at the bottom.

Maresca said: “The target is not the Premier League, the target is not the FA Cup. The target must be to maintain, to avoid relegation.

“In total, 90 per cent of the time, clubs that are promoted, a year after they are involved in the relegation battle. But it’s normal. That’s why next year we have to understand our objective, which is to avoid relegation.

“Next season, it’s quite clear that we have to understand that our target is to try to avoid relegation as soon as possible. That’s the most important thing.”

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