Ruben Dias will captain City in the Community Shield, while Maresca continues to shape a permanent leadership group after a summer of change.
Manchester City will have Ruben Dias wearing the captain’s armband against Arsenal in Sunday’s Community Shield, but manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed he is still delaying a permanent decision on the club’s leadership group until the transfer window closes.
The Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will provide the first competitive meeting between Arsenal and City this season, with City entering the campaign having undergone significant changes during the summer.
One of those changes is the search for a new long-term captain following the departure of Bernardo Silva.
Matters have been complicated further by uncertainty surrounding Rodri, who has attracted a third bid from Barcelona and is unavailable for Sunday’s match because of a back injury.
Rather than rush his decision, Maresca intends to wait until the transfer window has closed before confirming his leadership group for the season.
The City manager has also moved away from the system used under Pep Guardiola, when the players voted for their captain.
Instead, Maresca wants to appoint a four-man leadership group himself, with Dias and Erling Haaland currently the only confirmed members.
“At the moment, Ruben and Erling. But I want to wait until the end of the window and then pick two more,” Maresca said ahead of the Community Shield.
“Ruben has shown during his time at this club how he is as a player in terms of leadership. It’s important for the captain and the leader to know that the reason they are captain is because I expect more from them.
“It’s not because I give them more freedom or advantage. It’s the opposite, the leadership group and captains have to show more and give more than the others.”
Maresca has already ruled out making Haaland his first-choice captain despite including the striker in the leadership group. The City manager has explained he wants to be able to speak with his captain immediately after goals are scored, something he believes would be difficult if Haaland were occupied celebrating.
- Arsenal keep winning while the old narratives refuse to disappearMikel Arteta’s new deal, Bruno Guimaraes’ impact, two Arsenal wins and a tribute to Ken Friar feature in a busy week for the champions.
- Arsenal away kit debut wait goes on – for nowArsenal are set to wear their third kit against Nottingham Forest this weekend, meaning the wait for the new away kit’s men’s competitive debut is set to continue.
- Key Nottingham Forest star could miss Arsenal clash through injuryNottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt to face Arsenal on Sunday, with at least two other Forest players ruled out of the match.
- Arsenal injury updates on 4 players pre-Nottingham ForestMikel Arteta had injury updates on Arsenal’s four absentees on Friday, with Martin Zubimendi potentially in line to play against Nottingham Forest.
- Bournemouth now willing to sell Arsenal targetAFC Bournemouth are now open to selling Arsenal target Alex Scott in the January transfer window, though only if they receive a very large bid for the midfielder.