Pep Guardiola Left Stunned After Discovering Enzo Maresca’s Hilarious Nickname
Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City boss, has been left stunned after discovering his former colleague Enzo Maresca’s nickname – "Diet Pep". The two managers worked together at Manchester City, with Maresca serving as the Elite Development Squad coach before joining Guardiola’s backroom staff.
Maresca left his role at the Etihad to take charge of Leicester City, where he led the team to Championship glory last season. He was recently appointed as the Chelsea manager, setting up a intriguing clash with Guardiola on the opening weekend of the new Premier League campaign.
Speaking to the press ahead of tonight’s pre-season clash between Chelsea and Manchester City, Guardiola was told about Maresca’s nickname. "Diet?!" was his reaction, before being informed that it was due to his hair and beard.
Guardiola couldn’t help but praise Maresca, saying: "I’m really pleased, we spent a special year together but when we were in the second team together, he’s an incredible, lovely person, him and his family… He made a really good job, unbelievable, at Leicester, promoting to the Premier League and now being at one of the top five or six teams in England and I wish him all the best because he deserves it."
Maresca’s appointment at Chelsea has raised expectations, and Guardiola believes he has the potential to succeed. "Nice people deserve the best and as a manager, the most important thing to be a manager is to believe something deeply, but deeply, deeply, whatever result, stick with my idea, that’s why he believes in what he does and will have success. I don’t know how long but he will have it."
Chelsea and Manchester City are set to clash tonight in Columbus, Ohio, before they meet again in a league fixture on August 18. The two managers will be looking to get one over each other, but for now, they can agree on one thing – Maresca’s nickname is a real laugh.
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