Man City ahead of the new season: Haaland is the toughest challenge for Maresca

The Man City that Enzo Maresca takes over is no longer the team that dominated with ball possession in the 2020-2023 period, as Pep Guardiola had to adjust to the increasingly popular one-on-one pressing trend in the Premier League.

It is precisely this change that raises the question not of whether Maresca resembles Guardiola, but rather how well the current Man City squad fits Maresca.

Maresca has a suitable foundation ready

Maresca builds his play based on a clear principle: creating numerical advantages in different areas of the pitch. This is also a foundation that Man City players are already very familiar with after years of working with Guardiola.

The first advantage lies in the defense. Maresca often requires his center-backs to be deeply involved in the build-up process, observing how the opponent presses to find ways to escape pressure. This is particularly suitable for Josko Gvardiol, a player with good ball handling and the ability to carry the ball forward.

Maresca also favors a structure of three defenders and two midfielders when the team builds from the back. One defender can be pushed higher, acting as a full-back or midfielder, thereby creating additional numbers in the forward line.

Abdukodir Khusanov could be a notable option in this structure. If used on the right flank, the Uzbek player could drift inside while Man City controls possession, operating almost like a right-sided center-back. That arrangement helps utilize Khusanov's speed and defensive ability, while reducing the need to make too many complex passes.

Nico O'Reilly is also a player who could benefit. The midfielder, who came through the Man City academy, possesses the ability to contribute at both ends of the pitch and tends to make runs into the box. If Maresca uses O'Reilly in midfield, he could take on the dynamic role that the Italian coach demanded at Chelsea.

In midfield, the arrival of Elliot Anderson further increases the compatibility. The English midfielder has the ability to compete, cover ground, and always seeks to be involved in the ball circulation. Anderson's profile is quite close to the energetic midfielder type that Maresca used at Chelsea, notably Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

This change also reflects the evolution of Man City itself. In recent years, the club has not only added players good at ball control but also sought individuals with dribbling ability and the capacity to beat opponents.

Haaland is the toughest problem.

While the defense and midfield give many positive signals, Erling Haaland is the position that requires Maresca to think more carefully.

In his previous teams, Maresca often wanted his striker to be heavily involved in the combination play. At Leicester and Chelsea, he asked Jamie Vardy and Nicolas Jackson not only to stay ahead of the defense but also to drop back, link with teammates, and create extra numbers in the midfield area.

Haaland is a different type of striker. The Norwegian's greatest value lies in his ability to hold a high position, stretch the defense, and exploit the space behind the center-backs. If Haaland constantly drops deep to participate in combination play, Man City could lose one of the most potent threats against the opponent's defense.

Guardiola had to deal with this exact issue when Haaland joined Man City in 2022. The arrival of a true center-forward forced the team to adjust from the period of using a false nine. After a period of adaptation, Man City found a balance: Haaland holds a high position to stretch the defense, while the players behind take on most of the linking duties. Maresca will likely have to follow that direction rather than trying to turn Haaland into a completely different striker.

Notably, Maresca now has an additional option he didn't often have before: long balls from the goalkeeper to the forward line. With Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal and Haaland playing high, Man City can bypass the opponent's first pressing line when needed. Maresca's view on this issue also shows he is not too rigid. He has emphasized that the team must know when to play short and when to play long, depending on how the opponent organizes their pressing. This is a necessary adaptation in the modern Premier League.

Therefore, Maresca is not taking over a Man City that was designed entirely for possession-based football as it was a few years ago. Guardiola has adjusted, and Maresca will have to continue.

If Rodri stays, he still has a hugely important central midfielder for controlling the tempo and structure of the team. If Rodri leaves the Etihad, the transformation in midfield will be more intense and place additional responsibility on Anderson and the new midfielders. Overall, the current Man City squad can be considered about 8/10 compatible with Maresca's style.