Enzo Maresca has confessed he is still determining his strongest lineup at Manchester City, with the possibility of Marc Guehi operating in central midfield this term.
City kicked off their Premier League season with a thrilling late triumph against Bournemouth on Sunday, as Guehi headed an equaliser before Josko Gvardiol struck the winner in added time.
Maresca chose to deploy Guehi alongside Elliot Anderson in the middle of the park, with Nico O’Reilly occupying a more forward position. Rico Lewis began at right-back with Phil Foden positioned ahead of him, a pairing that proved vulnerable defensively, prompting Matheus Nunes to be introduced after the interval.
The surprising team selection, which also omitted Rayan Cherki – the Frenchman entering for the closing quarter and contributing two assists – featured just two alterations from the eleven that began the Community Shield, though numerous players found themselves in unfamiliar roles.
With six senior players having only resumed training a fortnight ago and further arrivals and departures anticipated before the transfer deadline shuts, Maresca accepts his City squad remains a side in development.
Speaking about his current thinking, he explained that he is gaining greater clarity with each passing day but still does not possess his ideal eleven.
Regarding the choice to use Guehi in midfield, Maresca noted that finding solutions is crucial at this stage. He explained he had observed Guehi during their time together at Palace and always believed the defender could excel in the middle of the pitch.
Maresca revealed they tested Guehi in central midfield during the latter part of the week following the Arsenal match, after initially using him as a centre-back, and was satisfied with his overall display. He emphasised that this versatility now provides the team with an additional option going forward.
When pressed on whether Guehi could become a permanent midfield solution, Maresca stated it represents one option available, though he could not confirm whether it would be deployed in the next fixture. He stressed the importance of having different tactical choices and suggested that when an option proves effective, it can be relied upon in future situations. He insisted this approach exists independently of transfer activity. The plan had been to add more physical presence to the centre of the pitch, and with Elliot Anderson, Guehi and Nico O’Reilly all offering that attribute, the arrangement worked well.