Manchester City began their Premier League campaign with a dramatic comeback victory over Arsenal on Sunday, as late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win. The frantic finale allowed manager Enzo Maresca to breathe out, but the result masked a bold and at times flawed team selection that raised questions about the club's direction.
Selection gamble pays off
Trailing heading into the final stages, critics questioned the decision to start Marc Guehi in midfield. However, Guehi equalised and Gvardiol, pushed up front for the closing minutes, finished like a seasoned striker to win the contest in added time. Maresca's call ultimately paid off because City won, but the bigger picture suggests a brave and experimental XI.
Starting any of Nico Gonzalez, Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush was considered foolhardy given all three could be on their way out. Rico Lewis started at right back with Guehi in midfield, while Nico O'Reilly took the attacking role, Phil Foden went wide and Gvardiol played left back. Five players lined up out of their most obvious position.
Muddled thinking or necessary changes?
While all have played in those positions before, and there is mitigation in managing minutes for those returning from the World Cup, the team spoke of muddled thinking. O'Reilly played left back in the Community Shield and is viewed as a left back by those at City this season, yet here he was in attacking midfield. Maresca spoke before the Bournemouth game of Foden competing as a number 10 with Rayan Cherki, but on the opening day neither was in that role.
Maresca has the difficult task of replacing Pep Guardiola while overseeing a City rebuild. He has the character, confidence, calmness and ability to manage the transition, but he needs help from above. Sporting Director Hugo Viana and the recruitment team must ensure Maresca is given the best possible outcomes to achieve the club's ambitions.
Midfield reinforcement needed
The sheer volume of transfers this summer makes the task difficult, even if perhaps only Rodri of the departed players would have been in Maresca's first-choice XI. The manager wants to strengthen that first XI with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.
"I think City owe it to Maresca to sign Enzo Fernandez," said the MEN's Chief City Writer Simon Bajkowski on this week's Talking City podcast. "Maresca has lost Rodri, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake and on top of that a load of players that weren't playing have all been sold and all need to be replaced. City did say earlier in the window that they are going to replace at least everyone who goes out to give Maresca the best chance."
"They need to do that or get as close as possible to that, but more than anything the best thing for Maresca would be to have his guy in midfield which is such a key area of the pitch. So if they are going to give Maresca the backing which they have said they will, I kind of think they have to sign Fernandez, whatever the price."
Maresca wants the Chelsea man, knows his ability, character and leadership skills, and believes the Argentina international can be a key lieutenant in the pivotal central midfield position. The belief is that a deal can be done but City would have to stump up £120million+, a second club-record signing in a matter of weeks that would raise further scrutiny. City are in the final throes of a window from which they hope clarity will emerge from the chaos as August turns to September.
