Photo: The White House / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Enzo Maresca has told his Manchester City squad that his arrival represents a clean slate for all players, regardless of their standing under predecessor Pep Guardiola.
The Italian took charge this summer after Guardiola's decade-long reign ended, and has used the opening three weeks of pre-season to assess the squad without preconceptions.
"The only thing I have said since I start to the players is that for me it's a new reset. All of them start at same level," Maresca said in Seoul ahead of Sunday's pre-season fixture against Atletico Madrid.
"Pre-season will dictate a little bit the transfer window. This has been the same message for everyone – for me it is a reset."
City's Tour of Asia has been disrupted by the absence of several first-team players following this summer's World Cup. Despite that, the club drew with Inter Milan in Hong Kong last Saturday and beat a K-League All Stars side on Wednesday.
Sunday's match against Atletico Madrid is City's final pre-season fixture before the Community Shield against Arsenal the following weekend.
Maresca said the squad has adapted well to his methods in the early sessions. "It has been very good since day one. They have been very open minded about a new manager arriving," he said.
"We have changed some structures and some patterns, the way we play on the ball off the ball and in general. These 10 days together are so important. I need a connection with them – and it's so important for the future."