'The talk is...' Enzo Maresca convinced Pep Guardiola to make key tactical move which won Man City the treble

New Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca is said to be the genius behind one of Pep Guardiola's most effective tactical tweaks.

On Monday, City confirmed Maresca's appointment as their manager on a three-year contract until 2029 - replacing his mentor Guardiola after he called time on his 10-year stint at the Etihad Stadium.

The Italian was widely expected to become City's next manager and his interest in taking the position is what caused his spell at Chelsea to end in the middle of last season.

The club were handed £17 million in compensation for Maresca because of his controversial exit and put out a never-before statement where they slammed the former Leicester boss but did not name him.

Maresca had a burning desire to return to City, having had two spells at the club.

He was the manager of the club's EDS side and won the Premier League 2 title in the 2020/21 campaign.

After a stint managing in his native Italy with Parma, he returned to City on Guardiola's coaching staff for 2022/23 - which ended up being the club's most successful season.

The Blues made English football history by winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup - matching the achievement from their rivals Manchester United in 1999.

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Maresca's role was an important one and Guardiola hailed his "special quality" when he became Leicester manager.

What Pep Guardiola Man City decision came from Enzo Maresca?

In fact, it has been claimed that he was responsible for the game-changing decision to move John Stones into a midfield position.

Guardiola came up with a whole host of tactical innovations in his time at City but in 2022/23, he regularly fielded four powerful central defenders in the business end of the season.

Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Stones all formed a solid backline.

But after many followed the tactical trend of moving full-backs into midfield, Guardiola did it with centre-back Stones and he slotted in alongside Rodri in a 3-2-4-1 formation.

The England defender produced one of the greatest ever Champions League final performances as City finally got over the line in Istanbul against Inter Milan.

However, the story goes that Maresca was the one who came up with the idea and got Guardiola onboard.

Speaking on the City Social podcast, Adam Monk of DAZN said: "You could actually argue that Maresca made the single most important tactical decision of the Guardiola era. And that was in the treble season to go to that flat back four of four centre-backs and invert John Stones.

"It won us three trophies. That's what people say. The talk is that Maresca made that decision and Guardiola went for it.

"I would argue that if it is true, that is probably what got him the job to be honest."

Maresca faces the near-impossible task of replacing arguably the greatest coach in history and a man who signed off with 20 trophies in English football.

But City feel he is ready for the task and will continue with the same philosophy which has brought incredible success to the club.

Elliott Anderson is set to become his first signing after City agreed a £116 million deal and the England and Nottingham Forest midfielder passed his medical.

“It’s a huge challenge, for many reasons," Maresca said after his official unveiling.

"All the success over the last 10 to 15 years, but at the same moment it’s a nice challenge. It’s exciting because the target is to continue or carry on the last decade or the last years that everything was very nice.

"Probably the reason why I am here is also because the idea from the club is to maintain the same style of football, the same idea and we’re going to try to do the most important thing in football which is try to win, to achieve important things. Then the day-by-day is also going to dictate the way I will work.”