Pep Guardiola: Chelsea must give time to Maresca

Enzo Maresca became the new Head Coach of Chelsea, replacing Mauricio Pochettino. The 44-year-old Italian signed a five-year deal.

Maresca helped Leicester City by coming back to the Premier League by winning the Championship only in his first season at the club. The Disciple of Pep Guardiola is set to face his master in their first match of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola has had some encouraging words of praise for Maresca during the pre-match press conference before the Chelsea vs Manchester City game. He has advised Chelsea to stick with the Italian and be patient with him.

"Yeah, we are happy to see him again. I saw him in the States a few weeks ago, and we are looking forward to seeing him again," Guardiola told reporters.

"The job Enzo did at Leicester belongs to him and his staff. My influence is zero on Leicester getting promoted again.

"I didn't score a goal or make any saves. I give info, and they learn. It's on both sides, and the success of the people together belongs absolutely to them.

"My advice (to Chelsea) is to give him time, and it will work. All managers need time. I don't know if Chelsea is the place to do this, but it will work if they give him time. This is how I feel."

The two coaches share a great friendly relationship, and even the Chelsea coach calls Pep a genius.

He says: 'I worked under (Carlo) Ancelotti as a player, (Marcello) Lippi as a player, (Manuel) Pellegrini as a player, and then I worked with Pep for two seasons at Manchester City. I try to take everything from them and create my own box to put everything inside.

'I do not consider Pep a manager, I consider him a genius because he is ahead of the rest. When you are with him and close, of course, you try to see things and learn to create your idea [as a coach].'