Manchester City begin their Premier League season against Bournemouth today with question marks hanging over the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens’ recent transfer dealings have seen numerous senior players depart, with further exits possible. This has raised doubts about the club’s recruitment approach and how they will perform in their first top-flight campaign in ten years without Pep Guardiola in charge.
Manager Enzo Maresca remains composed and assured that the necessary signings will arrive before the September 1 transfer deadline, though ahead of Sunday’s season opener the squad appears somewhat thin on numbers despite its obvious quality.
The team’s strongest area lies at the back, and while doubts persist about Gianluigi Donnarumma following his unconvincing display in last Sunday’s Community Shield, the Italian remains the clear number one.
Matheus Nunes has recovered from injury and can fill in at right back while Ruben Dias is expected to lead the side from the heart of the defence. Marc Guehi may pip Josko Gvardiol to the vacancy alongside the captain, unless the Croatia international operates at left back and Nico O’Reilly shifts into midfield. Most likely, O’Reilly begins in the role he made his own during the previous campaign.
In the middle of the park, Elliot Anderson will feature from the start, and should O’Reilly be deployed at left back, the choice to accompany the £116m player falls between Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez unless Rico Lewis is thrown into the mix. With Gonzalez reportedly attracting interest from elsewhere, Kovacic could retain his spot despite an underwhelming performance in Cardiff.
Jeremy Doku’s injury has created issues further up the pitch. Antoine Semenyo impressed on the left during pre-season fixtures and could move across to the opposite flank, though that would probably see Phil Foden operating from the right. Alternatively, Rayan Ait-Nouri might take up the left-sided berth or Jack Grealish could be handed a starting role, completing a remarkable City revival. Rayan Cherki and Foden are battling for the number ten position behind Erling Haaland, with the defeated party potentially shifted wide this weekend.
Expected City lineup: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Kovacic, Cherki; Semenyo, Foden, Haaland.