Nico Gonzalez Compares Guardiola and Mariska

Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez has stated that there are significant similarities between the style of former coach Pep Guardiola and current coach Enzo Marisca, with a key difference concerning the clarity of the tactical structure.

In an interview published by the French account ‘beIN Sports’, Gonzalez stated: "We know they are very similar. I believe Enzo has learned a lot from Pep. With Mariska, the structure is very clear. With Pep, we changed a lot of things. Sometimes we played with two center-backs, and sometimes with three defenders and a player in front of them. Today, Enzo is clear about what he wants to implement, and that is probably the main difference."

The statement comes as part of the preparation period for the upcoming 2026-2027 season, following Mariska's appointment as Guardiola's successor last June. Mariska had previously worked within the coaching staff at City.

In recent statements, Gonzalez confirmed that he enjoys training sessions with the Italian coach, noting that the core idea remains the same (high pressing, quick ball recovery, and numerous passes), despite some differences in details and structure.