Sports · Football · 3 hrs ago
Demichelis calls Maresca a close friend ahead of Leipzig-Man City
Leipzig coach Martín Demichelis is preparing to face Manchester City in the Champions League.
Demichelis and City manager Enzo Maresca are longtime friends who played together at Málaga in Spain.
They once lived next door to each other, and their children grew up together.
Demichelis said Maresca is intelligent and pragmatic, and that it would be an honour to share the field with him.
The match is part of the competition’s league phase, and Leipzig want a win to move into a qualifying position.
Maresca said City must focus on winning in the way they are trying to play, while treating the season as a marathon rather than a sprint.
The teams are scheduled to meet in the fourth round of the league phase.
RB Leipzig coach Martín Demichelis called Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca one of his best friends ahead of their Champions League meeting.
Demichelis said the two men had lived door to door in Spain and that their children grew up together.
He said it would be an honour to share the field with Maresca.
Maresca compared the season to a marathon and said he wanted City to win in the way they were trying to play.
The sources give inconsistent dates for the match: CBS Sports refers to Wednesday, while Olé says Wednesday, October 4.
- Who
- Martín Demichelis and Enzo Maresca. Demichelis coaches RB Leipzig and Maresca coaches Manchester City.
- What
- Demichelis described Maresca as a close friend ahead of their teams’ Champions League match.
- When
- Ahead of the match, which the sources place on a Wednesday. Olé says October 4, while CBS Sports refers to November 3.
- Where
- Leipzig was set to host Manchester City.
- Why
- The managers were due to meet in the Champions League, and Demichelis was asked about Maresca.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Demichelis spoke about his friendship with Maresca and their planned Champions League meeting.
Leipzig was scheduled to host Manchester City; the sources give inconsistent dates for the match.
- Managers
- Martín Demichelis and Enzo Maresca
- Teams
- RB Leipzig and Manchester City
- Competition
- Champions League league phase, fourth round
- Match venue
- Leipzig was set to host Manchester City
- Date
- Olé says Wednesday, October 4; CBS Sports refers to Wednesday, November 3
2 sources
What people are saying
He is one of my best friends in football. I would say we are almost like brothers.
We lived together or, rather, door to door in Spain. I know his philosophy and ideas well. Our children grew up together.
He is very intelligent and pragmatic. It will be an honour to share the field with him tomorrow.
This is not a short race. It is not a sprint, it is like a marathon.