Manchester City head into the November international break on the back of three successive Premier League defeats and with soul-searching to do after a dismal display at Nottingham Forest.
Defeat at the City Ground
Enzo Maresca's men lost 3-1 at the City Ground and were two down inside the opening 20 minutes as the Blues produced a flat first half performance. Rayan Cherki's stunning strike got City back into the game but they conceded a third on the counter and ultimately didn't deserve a result.
The Forest loss followed defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton and has prompted plenty of discussion about what is going wrong for Maresca's City.
Fernandez in the Firing Line
One player in the firing line is club record arrival Enzo Fernandez, who joined from Chelsea in the summer. The Argentina international missed a glorious chance at the City Ground when he headed wide in the first half and has been short of his best form in recent weeks.
His positioning and the decision to allow him to play in advance of Elliot Anderson in the middle of midfield has left the former Nottingham Forest man facing too much responsibility, while also meaning City are too exposed on transition.
Possible Solutions
Fernandez and Maresca have to find a solution to the midfield issues with plenty calling for teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi - who has impressed against Porto and PSG in the Champions League - to be given more opportunities. The 19-year-old would be a more defensive option alongside Anderson and would potentially allow City to operate with more solidity.
That would mean Fernandez would either have to move into the number 10 role currently occupied by Cherki and a position that Phil Foden also has eyes on, or drop out of the side completely.
Given the former Chelsea midfielder was a key Maresca target this summer and that he cost £125million only a matter of months ago, dropping him from the XI would be a big call. But would it be the right one?
