Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has introduced high-energy electronic dance music to the club’s training sessions at the Etihad Campus. The tactical approach, previously utilized by Maresca at Leicester City and Chelsea, is designed to boost squad happiness and performance as the team navigates early-season fixtures.
High-energy house tracks now pulse from huge speakers around the pitch as Manchester City players warm up for training sessions at the Etihad Campus.
While elite football training grounds traditionally favor a silent, highly measured atmosphere, Maresca has deliberately broken from convention. When complex tactical instructions need to be delivered during a session, the music is lowered or stopped entirely, but during warm-ups and ball-work phases, the tracks keep playing.
Enzo Maresca Explains the Philosophy Behind Training Ground Music
Speaking ahead of European and domestic fixtures, the 46-year-old manager explained that the auditory shift is intended to foster a lighter, more joyful environment for the squad. According to CityXtra, Maresca noted that he used the same method during his previous managerial stints at Leicester City and Chelsea before bringing the routine to Manchester.
When questioned about his personal musical preferences, Maresca acknowledged his taste for house music, describing the style with an onomatopoeic summary. boom, boom, boom
he said.
Tactical Adjustments and Squad Continuity Under a New Regime
The auditory shift is accompanied by meaningful tactical adjustments on the pitch.
Captain Ruben Dias observed in an interview with BBC Sport that while the Italian coach has introduced fresh concepts regarding pressing schemes and defensive organization, the core identity of the squad remains intact.
“There’s obviously many things from training sessions to some details about the way we press, details about the way we defend that make all of these Enzo’s idea. It’s still a change, of course. Many things have changed, but in some ways continuity in terms of the way we are playing, and there are details that make it different. But still, all very similar to the way we have always behaved at the club.”
Scientific Context and Modern Coaching Trends
The use of rhythm and audio cues in sports performance has broader academic precedent. Research conducted by academics at the Institute of Sports Science at the University of Hanover demonstrated that footballers improved their game when listening to music at a set rhythm through headphones compared to control groups.
Similar holistic approaches have been observed across the Premier League, with Scott Parker having previously utilized warm-up playlists during training sessions while in charge at Burnley.
Early Results and Transfer Window Activity
The transition has yielded immediate results on the pitch. Manchester City secured a 1-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford despite playing with ten men following Phil Foden’s red card. Maresca’s tactical flexibility—including a half-time substitution that replaced Rayan Cherki with Iliman Ndiaye—paved the way for Erling Haaland to score the winning goal.
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