The Italian had two spells at City as part of Guardiola's staff.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Now with Chelsea, Maresca led the club to the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup titles and Champions League qualification.
Guardiola said, "The work he's doing is exceptional and doesn't get the recognition he deserves. This league is unique: you can win several games and then start losing without knowing why."
Interestingly, Guardiola and City meet Sunderland this weekend - ten years after the Catalan made his Premier League debut against the Black Cats.
He added, "I'm a different person than I was ten years ago. It's been a sensational journey."