Enzo Maresca, the new manager of Manchester City, has shared his concerns about the possibility of Erling Haaland becoming the team’s captain this season. As Maresca embarks on his inaugural season with the Cityzens, he steps into the shoes of Pep Guardiola, who led the team before him.
Maresca addressed questions from a journalist in South Korea regarding his new squad, including whether Haaland was a contender for the captaincy. He explained that his policy might prevent the Norwegian from being eligible, as his approach requires the captain to receive instructions whenever the striker scores.
“That is a good one. At Leicester and Chelsea, I had a rule that when we scored, the captain had to come to the bench, not to celebrate, for instructions. But if the captain scores, then he can celebrate. If Erling is the captain, f***ing hell! We have a problem, can you imagine?
Even if it is two or three minutes, there is always something to adjust. We have three or four (captains) and we are missing one. In the case of Rodri, see what happens,” he said (via The Athletic).
Under Guardiola, Haaland occasionally wore the captain’s armband. This season, however, Manchester City will be without their former captain Bernardo Silva, and Rodri has been rumored to potentially leave the club.
Maresca is expected to choose a new captain before the season starts, with Ruben Dias as a potential candidate due to his role as a center-back. Phil Foden, one of the club’s longest-serving players currently, is also being considered for the role.
Haaland Set for Manchester City Return Against Arsenal
Erling Haaland is preparing to rejoin Manchester City in their Community Shield match against Arsenal. The 26-year-old striker has been away during the summer, participating in the FIFA World Cup for Norway.
The Premier League club granted Haaland extended leave this summer after he played over 60 matches for both club and country in the past year. After spending nearly a month on vacation, he will resume pre-season training in Manchester on Wednesday, August 11.
Manchester City is gearing up to face Arsenal on August 16, with the team at full strength for the match. Under Maresca’s guidance, they have played three friendly matches this summer, securing two wins and one draw.
Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen
