Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has expressed strong support for defender Marc Guehi following the club’s recent Carabao Cup quarter-final victory over Brighton, highlighting the central defender’s resilience and leadership amid a demanding schedule.

After City’s defeat against Aston Villa, Maresca granted several senior players a brief rest to address mental and physical fatigue. The decision affected the club’s so-called “famous five” regular starters—Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Elliot Anderson, and Josko Gvardiol—each of whom had accumulated over 850 minutes of playtime this season. Guehi, however, was notably absent from the group given time off and instead took a leadership role during the penalty shootout against Brighton, donning the captain’s armband and providing support to teammates such as Mateo Kovacic.

Maresca praised Guehi’s performance after two challenging fixtures, emphasizing the defender’s ability to handle setbacks and maintain composure. Unlike some of his peers, Guehi has logged extensive minutes recently, including a long World Cup run and nearly all of England’s international fixtures in the past month. Despite this workload, he has not indicated a need for rest, a fact that Maresca said was considered when selecting the lineup against Brighton. The manager noted Guehi’s youth and capacity for quicker recovery compared to other defenders, including Dias.

Guehi’s recent form has included some high-profile errors. He acknowledged responsibility for mistakes that contributed to Ipswich’s two goals in a 3-2 win and also miscontrolled a pass early in the Villa game that led to a goal. Maresca’s halftime substitution of Guehi in that match raised concerns about the player’s confidence, but the manager has since reiterated his belief in Guehi’s mental strength and leadership qualities. Guehi’s openness in accepting fault and taking ownership within the team is seen as a key factor behind Maresca’s choice to name him as a lieutenant alongside captain Dias, fulfilling the manager’s desire to include an English player in the leadership group.

This season, Guehi’s performances have generally improved since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium in January, highlighted by impressive displays in high-profile matches against Manchester United and Porto. These came before the recent controversy involving an independent commission ruling that City had breached financial rules. The ruling reportedly caused concern among City players, but meetings with the club’s chief executive and Maresca helped reassure the squad, with Guehi publicly expressing his trust in the club’s stance.

Guehi’s journey to City has been eventful, including a failed move to Liverpool due to medical issues before eventually joining City in mid-season to strengthen a depleted defense. He has had to adapt quickly to changing managerial styles, moving from Crystal Palace to working under Pep Guardiola and then Maresca in rapid succession. Under Maresca, City have adopted a more aggressive defensive pressing system, which creates openings that require heightened concentration from defenders like Guehi.

Maresca’s backing suggests the club sees Guehi as an important figure capable of regaining form and helping City navigate a challenging period across multiple competitions.