'If I don't win, it's a disaster', says Maresca ahead of Sunderland clash

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maresca-enzo/nJsvYDRG/"]Maresca[/a] has the daunting task of replacing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Guardiola[/a], who won 20 trophies in a glorious 10-year reign at the Etihad.[/p][p]Since losing the Community Shield to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] in pre-season, the Italian has made a flawless start in the campaign with six consecutive wins across three different competitions.[/p][p]The highlight came last weekend when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/?mid=0YOA44w3"]City won 1-0 at local rivals Manchester United[/a] despite playing for over an hour a man down after an early red card for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/foden-phil/E7XjDJns/"]Phil Foden[/a].[/p][p]Maresca has been backed by a record £460 million splurge on players. He also had to cope with a series of high-profile departures, with Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri among those leaving the Etihad.[/p][p][b]"I said in the first press conference, for me to be in this club is a privilege, and to be in this club after a legend like Pep is a privilege,"[/b] Maresca said ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/sunderland-WSzc94ws/?mid=fZCq6HE7"]Sunderland's visit in the Premier League on Sunday.[/a][/p][p][b]"I know if I don't win, it's a disaster, and it's normal, but I don't spend my day thinking about who was here before and for how many years."[/b][/p][image alt="Man City in the standings" id="f17f311a-a87a-4b5b-a14a-8f44380a3295" credit-line="Flashscore" hidden-attrs="alt, credit" guid="3336040a-6285-4b41-9584-1fe6feda172d" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]The former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] manager added:[b] "I'm just here to focus on what we can do better, improve the team and trying to win games.[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm very happy with these five or six games in a row, but now the main focus is just on the next one, and I'm not thinking that we won six in a row because those games are finished. We focus on the next one, and then we have the international break."[/b][/p][p]Maresca could afford to give the majority of his key players the night off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/norwich-Qo6off6p/?mid=0xXvydIM"]for Thursday's 5-0 thrashing of Norwich in the League Cup.[/a][/p][p]Teenager [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/samba-floyd/2X2WRKbk/"]Floyd Samba[/a] starred with a double on his debut. Brazilian winger Allan also marked his first [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City[/a] appearance with a goal.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cherki-mathis/vm0eu2V3/"]Rayan Cherki[/a], the only player to start both games, was replaced at half-time in each game.[/p][p][b]"It was very important we gave rest to the ones that played back-to-back 90 minutes against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-porto/S2NmScGp/"]Porto[/a] and United,"[/b] explained Maresca. "Hopefully they can be full of energy for Sunday's game."[/p][infobox id="02b45e73-9abc-454d-882a-650a1a621f7d" /]