Enzo Maresca has made a flying start at Manchester City, and the new manager is now just four victories away from matching Pep Guardiola’s remarkable opening run at the club.
City have won all six of their opening matches under Maresca across all competitions. Their latest success came in emphatic fashion as they defeated Norwich City 5-0 in the third round of the 2026/2027 Carabao Cup on Thursday, September 17.
The result continued an impressive opening spell for Maresca, who has quickly established momentum with his new squad.
Manchester City have scored 15 goals and conceded only twice across their first six matches. They have also recorded four consecutive clean sheets.
Now, attention is turning toward a record once achieved by Guardiola when he first took charge at the Etihad Stadium.
Maresca Closing In on Guardiola’s Record
According to Sportmole, Maresca’s six consecutive victories have put him within touching distance of Guardiola’s incredible start at Manchester City.
Guardiola won his first 10 matches in all competitions after taking over the club in 2016.
That means Maresca needs four more victories to equal the former City manager’s winning streak.
The challenge, however, will become significantly tougher over the next few weeks.
Manchester City must first face Sunderland before the international break. After the break, Maresca’s side will travel to Anfield to face Liverpool before returning to Champions League action against Paris Saint-Germain.
Ipswich Town will then provide another test just three days later.
Manchester City’s next four matches:
- Sunderland — September 20
- Liverpool — October 11
- Paris Saint-Germain — October 14
- Ipswich Town — October 17
Winning all four would allow Maresca to match Guardiola’s 10-game winning run from the beginning of his Manchester City career.
Liverpool and PSG Provide Major Tests
The next four matches represent a significant test of Manchester City’s early-season form.
Sunderland will be the immediate opponent on September 20, giving Maresca an opportunity to extend his winning run before the international break.
The real challenge comes afterward.
Manchester City will visit Anfield to face Liverpool on October 11. Just three days later, they will return to Champions League action against PSG.
The demanding schedule means Maresca will have to manage his squad carefully, particularly with another Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town following the European match.
A perfect run through those four games would not only move Maresca level with Guardiola’s opening record but also provide a significant boost to his new project.
Maresca Has a Previous Connection With Manchester City
Maresca is not completely unfamiliar with Manchester City.
Before becoming the club’s manager, he was part of Guardiola’s coaching staff during the 2022/2023 season, when City won the treble.
However, Maresca has made it clear that his previous experience at the Etihad does not mean he already knows the current squad.
“When I was here before, there were only three or four players who are still here now,” Maresca said.
That highlights how much the Manchester City squad has changed since his previous spell at the club.
From the starting XI that defeated Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final, only Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Ruben Dias remain in the squad. Rico Lewis was also part of that team but was on the bench for the final.
Several important figures from that era have since left the club.
Rodri, Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake are no longer part of the squad, leaving Maresca with a significantly different group of players to work with.
New Faces Making an Early Impact
Maresca’s current Manchester City project includes several new additions.
Marc Guehi, Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi have become part of the new-look squad.
Another player to attract attention is Allan, who made an immediate impression by scoring during his first start against Norwich City.
The early results suggest that Maresca’s squad is adapting quickly to his methods.
The six consecutive victories, combined with 15 goals and only two conceded, provide an encouraging foundation for the season.
However, the manager still faces the challenge of maintaining that consistency when the level of opposition increases.
Guardiola’s Start Offers a Warning
While Maresca’s beginning has been impressive, Guardiola’s first season at Manchester City also provides an important reminder.
Guardiola won his first 10 matches in all competitions during the 2016/2017 campaign. His first six victories all came in the Premier League.
However, the impressive run eventually ended when City drew 3-3 with Celtic in the Champions League.
The team’s momentum then began to fade.
During October, Manchester City went five matches without a victory. Despite their spectacular start, Guardiola ultimately ended his debut season in England without a trophy.
City finished third in the Premier League, were eliminated in the Champions League round of 16 and exited the FA Cup at the semifinal stage.
That history shows why an impressive opening run cannot automatically be considered a guarantee of success.
Maresca Has a Chance to Write His Own Story
Maresca now has an opportunity to move within touching distance of one of Guardiola’s most memorable starts at Manchester City.
Four more wins would see him equal the Spaniard’s 10-match winning run.
But the upcoming fixtures will provide a much clearer indication of how strong Maresca’s Manchester City project really is.
Liverpool and PSG will test the team against high-level opposition, while the tightly packed schedule will also challenge Maresca’s ability to manage his squad.
For now, the numbers are certainly encouraging. Six wins, 15 goals, two goals conceded and four consecutive clean sheets have given Maresca an excellent platform.
The next four matches could determine whether his opening chapter at Manchester City becomes comparable to Guardiola’s remarkable beginning — or serves as a reminder that a brilliant start is only the first step toward a successful season.
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