Manchester City began the Enzo Maresca era with a Premier League win after late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol secured a dramatic comeback at the Etihad. The victory came after a difficult start that saw the home side fall behind and struggle to convert chances.
Midfield experiment and defensive concerns
For the second consecutive match, Maresca appeared to make a point about his midfield. After Mateo Kovacic was overrun against Arsenal, the manager again overlooked Nico Gonzalez and instead handed Marc Guehi his first ever midfield appearance for the club, and only his third in the last four years.
City agreed to pay Lille a guaranteed £81.4m for Ayyoub Bouaddi, a deal that should strengthen the midfield in time for the visit to Crystal Palace on Friday. However, it did not help in the opening Premier League game, and the time spent on that transfer felt more avoidable after dropped points at the Etihad. The Blues were much improved on their display in Cardiff last week but suffered the same outcome because of defending and attacking that was not good enough.
Defensive lapses and missed chances
Rico Lewis was again deployed at right-back in a surprise start. He was excellent knitting play together with Phil Foden high up the pitch, but was nowhere to be seen as Marcus Tavernier slotted home the opening goal in the space where Lewis was supposed to be. The other three defenders hardly covered themselves in glory for the goal.
Erling Haaland missed a sitter by his standards in the first half, and Guehi then headed wide from two yards after being left unmarked from a corner shortly after the break. Before the game, the Etihad had come together to celebrate former manager Kevin Keegan with huge applause rippling around the stands. With Maresca staring at defeat in his first game, the Italian must have felt the size of the job he has taken on.
Late comeback and next steps
Yet, just as the song that played at the end said, the boys in Blue will never give in. That was the command under Pep Guardiola, and a dramatic comeback in the final 10 minutes showed it will ring true under Maresca as well, as Guehi rose to meet a corner and then Gvardiol pounced in the box.
Maresca wants his City team to be entertaining, and they were, but he will also hope that matchdays become calmer as the team settles. Bouaddi and a few more players before the transfer window closes should help considerably with that.
