Maresca on Manchester City's integration: The whole team has adapted to the new tactics.

Manchester City are about to face Crystal Palace in their first away game of the new season. Manager Enzo Maresca stated in the pre-match press conference that the team is fully adapting to the new tactical requirements, and the players are very close to completely mastering his tactical ideas. He also shared his thoughts on preseason preparations and squad depth planning.

After securing a winning start to the Premier League season with a victory over Bournemouth last week, Maresca highlighted the team's execution in defense and pressing: "I think we are very close to fully understanding the tactics. In the last game against Bournemouth, our ball recovery rate in pressing reached 76%, which is a very impressive statistic."

"It's impossible to control everything in a football match, but winning back 76% of the ball is far better than 50%, which means giving the opponent fewer opportunities. The players have a deep understanding of the defensive and high-pressing style we want."

Speaking about the preparation and integration process after taking over the team this summer, Maresca admitted that he faced multiple challenges from the transfer period and the competition cycle: "A new coach always wants to bring new ideas and playing styles."

"Due to the late return of some players and the impact of the transfer window, the preparations were indeed somewhat complicated. Arranging for Geich to play in midfield was one solution. My responsibility is to find solutions for different matches and do my best to help the players win on the field."

With the summer transfer window closing soon, Maresca has clarified his ideal squad configuration: "The ideal concept is to have two players in each position, so that they can compete with each other and maintain a higher level of performance."

"Currently, the first team has 21 to 22 players, including three to four youth academy players who train with the team. However, considering that we may have to play 60 to 65 games this season due to multiple competitions, we may need to further strengthen the squad depth in certain positions."

Image source: Internet/Manchester City official website