11 June 2023 , 10:30
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The father of Manchester City assistant coach Enzo Maresca has been found safe and well after police were informed that he went missing during last night’s Champions League final in Istanbul.
Turkish police initiated a search after he “disappeared” while in Ataturk Stadium during the 1-0 win over Inter Milan.
Maresca, who has become Guardiola’s right-hand man, was made aware and attempted to reach his father by phone.
During the match an announcement was made in the ground for Pascquale de Caro to make himself known to the nearest steward.
The message was also shown on the big screens inside the 72,000-seater stadium. Maresca was registered at birth with his mother’s surname. The club's Twitter account to provide assistance to supporters also posted an appeal.
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It is unclear what happened for the alarm to have been raised but City have confirmed that Mr de Caro was found in the early hours of this morning.
Maresca, 43, spent three years early in his playing career at West Bromwich Albion before winning Serie A at Juventus and the Europa League with Sevilla.
The coach initially took up a role with City's development squad, winning Premier League 2 in 2020-21, before taking charge of Parma in Serie B.
Pep Guardiola kisses the trophy after Manchester City won their first Champions LeagueBut he joined City’s backroom staff last summer after Juanma Lillo departed for a managerial role in Saudi Arabia. He has recently been linked with the vacant managerial roles at Celtic and Leicester City.
Rodri's 68th-minute goal was enough to earn City a first Champions League title and seal the Treble. The man of the match winner admitted afterwards that he had "played s***" but was overjoyed to land the trophy.
“I am emotional. It’s a dream come true. All these fans have waited I don't know how many years. They deserve it, we deserve it," he said.
“It was so hard, but finals are like this. You can't expect to play well as always. Emotions and nerves are there.
"We competed like animals and we want more. All of those players who made the club big, like Aguero, Silva and Kompany, this one is for them.”
Rodri scored the winner for City in Istanbul (AFP via Getty Images)Guardiola said: “Winning the Treble is so difficult, but it was written in the stars that we would win this season. This trophy is so difficult to win. This competition is a [toss of a] coin. But now it belongs to us.
“We knew it would be hard and we were anxious in the first half. It was a question of being patient - and we also had to be lucky with Ederson at the end.
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“The momentum came from winning the Premier League and FA Cup and now we have this. I am tired, calm and satisfied. I have no energy to think of next season, when we will start from zero.
“We're going to celebrate in the hotel with family and friends and on Monday the parade is in Manchester.”