Manchester City may have started their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth, but the performance showed that Enzo Maresca still has plenty of problems to solve.
After the painful 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, City needed a positive response. They eventually got the three points, but it was far from straightforward. The team dominated possession and created several good chances, yet Bournemouth made life difficult before City turned the game around.
For Maresca, the biggest talking point was not only the victory, but also the unusual decision to use Marc Guehi as a defensive midfielder.
Seeing a centre-back playing in midfield naturally raised plenty of eyebrows.
Guehi is normally recognised as a central defender, but Maresca revealed after the match that this was not something he suddenly invented on the day. In fact, the manager had been thinking about the possibility for some time.
Maresca explained that he had already known Guehi from his Crystal Palace days and had always believed that the England international possessed the qualities to play in midfield.
The coaching staff therefore spent several days testing the idea in training. When the opportunity came against Bournemouth, Maresca decided to trust him.
And surprisingly, Guehi looked comfortable.
He was not simply being asked to fill a hole. His defensive awareness allowed him to protect the back four, while his physical strength and composure helped City maintain control in the middle of the pitch.
For fans following Manchester City closely on 12B Sports, this experiment could become one of the more interesting tactical developments of the early season.
However, Guehi’s performance should not hide the bigger issue.
City are still dealing with a shortage of fully fit midfielders, and the situation has been made more complicated by several players returning late from their summer commitments.
Maresca admitted that four or five players had only returned around 10 days earlier. Erling Haaland, Anderson, Guehi and O’Reilly were among those still effectively going through a pre-season period.
That explains why City did not look completely sharp.
The problem is that the Premier League does not wait for anyone.
City can survive one or two matches with makeshift solutions, but relying on a defender as a midfielder for an extended period would be risky. If the club genuinely wants to challenge for the title, strengthening the midfield remains an important priority.
Maresca’s decision to use Guehi could therefore be interpreted in two different ways. It may simply be tactical flexibility, or it could also be a subtle reminder to the board that another midfielder would be useful.
Either way, the message is clear: City still have work to do.
One of the biggest positives from the match was the impact of Rayan Cherki.
The Frenchman started on the bench, but once he came onto the pitch, City’s attacking play immediately became more fluid.
Cherki provided two assists and added another level of creativity to the attack. His ability to receive the ball between the lines, combine with teammates and find openings made Bournemouth’s defence increasingly uncomfortable.
Maresca was full of praise for him afterwards, admitting that his influence was almost unbelievable.
The manager also explained why Cherki did not start. With several players already returning late, starting another player in that situation could have left City with five players lacking full match fitness.
Instead, Maresca deliberately kept Cherki for the final 30 minutes.
It worked perfectly.
For 12B Sports readers, Cherki could be one of the players worth watching closely this season. If he can consistently produce this kind of impact, he could quickly become an important part of City’s attacking plans.
Another concern is the physical condition of City’s squad.
Haaland did not look completely at his best, which is understandable given his late return. The same applies to several other players.
Maresca stressed that these footballers are still effectively in pre-season mode. That means City supporters should probably avoid judging the team too harshly after just one league match.
At the same time, expectations at Manchester City are extremely high.
After years of controlling matches through midfield dominance and relentless attacking pressure, even a slight drop in quality becomes noticeable. Losing Rodri has already created a major structural question, and Maresca must find a sustainable solution rather than simply patching holes from week to week.
Guehi may have provided one answer, but it is unlikely to be the final answer.
There was also an interesting moment when Maresca was asked about the reported arrival of Buadi.
The manager admitted that he had not yet spoken with the club’s officials about the situation and therefore could not provide any meaningful update.
When asked whether more new signings could arrive, his response was simple: there were still eight days left, and “something will definitely happen.”
That comment will certainly keep Manchester City supporters interested.
The win over Bournemouth gives Maresca breathing room after the Community Shield disappointment, but it does not erase the squad’s weaknesses. The midfield remains a major question, while several key players still need time to reach full fitness.
The good news is that City already have players capable of changing games from the bench. Cherki’s performance showed exactly that, while Guehi demonstrated that Maresca is willing to think outside the box.
The next few weeks will reveal whether these are temporary solutions or signs of a completely different Manchester City under their new manager.
For 12B Sports, one thing is already clear: this City side may not be finished yet, and the remaining days of the transfer window could be just as important as the opening match itself.
