Guardiola comparisons 'don't put pressure on me'

[Getty Images] [Getty Images] Enzo Maresca's arrival at Manchester City began with the inevitable comparisons of when David Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. The 46-year-old referenced Ferguson and Arsene Wenger in his unveiling news conference, saying clubs "struggled a little bit" after the departures of long-serving managers. It's almost easy to forget City started this season with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the Community Shield, but the side have bounced back in style with five straight victories, including the Champions League win at Porto. While the Old Trafford job appeared to be too much for Moyes to handle, lasting only 10 months before being sacked, Maresca seems to be embracing the "challenge" and "privilege" of succeeding Guardiola. Maresca acknowledged to reporters in pre-season that City's former boss would be referenced on a regular basis, but batted that particular narrative away by asserting "it doesn't put pressure on me". The former Chelsea and Leicester City manager needed to hit the ground running at Etihad Stadium in order to avoid questions about whether he was the right man for the job having been the only person City targeted to take over. City made major changes in the squad during the summer and the new-look side begin their Carabao Cup defence against Norwich at the Etihad on Thursday (19:30 BST), followed by hosting Sunderland in the Premier League three days later. Maresca dispatched rivals United on their own turf, and victory in the next two games will ensure a near-perfect start to his tenure in one of football's toughest jobs. Read more about Maresca here