SBOTOP : Enzo Maresca Confident Man City Squad Is Grasping His Tactics

Manchester City are still adapting to Enzo Maresca’sideas, but the new head coach believes his players are already getting close to understanding exactly what he wants from them.

Maresca has inherited a squad during a period of significant change. With new tactical concepts to absorb, players returning at different times because of the World Cup, and transfer activity still ongoing, the early weeks have not been straightforward.

Yet there are already encouraging signs.

After opening their Premier League campaign with a victory over Bournemouth, Manchester City are preparing for their first away match of the season against Crystal Palace on Friday, August 28, 2026.

For Maresca, the way City defended and pressed in their opening game offered plenty of reason for optimism.

Maresca Sees Clear Progress at Man City

Maresca believes Manchester City are increasingly comfortable with his defensive principles.

The Italian coach said his players are beginning to understand how he wants them to defend and press opponents, something that was particularly visible against Bournemouth.

“I think we are quite close,” Maresca said during his press conference on Thursday, August 27.

One statistic stood out to the manager.

Manchester City regained possession through their pressing on 76 percent of the occasions Maresca was referring to against Bournemouth. He described the figure as an outstanding result.

For a coach trying to introduce a specific tactical identity, that number represents more than just a statistic. It suggests the players are beginning to recognize when and how to apply pressure.

Maresca believes the effectiveness of that approach can help City reduce the opportunities available to their opponents.

Pressing Has Become a Key Indicator

The ability to win the ball back quickly is an important part of Maresca’s approach.

Rather than expecting Manchester City to control every single moment of a match, the manager wants his team to maximize the situations they can influence.

Football, as Maresca pointed out, cannot be completely controlled.

That is why he prefers to focus on how often his team can recover possession through coordinated pressing.

The difference is significant from his perspective. Winning the ball back 76 percent of the time through pressing is considerably more encouraging than doing so at a much lower rate.

The benefits are also straightforward:

• City can regain possession higher up the pitch.
• Opponents have fewer opportunities to build attacks.
• The team can maintain pressure for longer periods.
• Players become more familiar with their defensive responsibilities.
• The tactical principles become easier to apply during matches.

For Maresca, these signs indicate that his players are gradually absorbing the philosophy he wants to establish.

Falling Behind Against Bournemouth Was Not a Concern

Manchester City did not have everything their own way against Bournemouth.

They fell behind during the first half after Marcus Tavernier found the net. However, City responded after the break, with Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiolscoring to secure victory.

Rather than focusing heavily on the early setback, Maresca looked at the broader performance.

His view is that a team cannot eliminate every unexpected situation during a football match. Opponents will create chances, while set pieces and individual moments can always change the flow of a game.

What matters is how the team responds and whether its overall tactical structure remains strong.

That perspective also explains why Maresca highlighted City’s pressing numbers rather than simply concentrating on the fact that they conceded first.

World Cup and Transfers Have Complicated Preparations

Building a new tactical system is rarely simple, and Manchester City have faced additional challenges during the early stages of Maresca’s tenure.

The impact of the World Cup meant some players arrived later than others, reducing the amount of time the entire squad could spend working together.

Transfer activity has also continued during the summer.

That combination has forced Maresca to remain flexible. Instead of having the same group available throughout preseason, he has needed to find solutions based on the players available for each match.

One example came against Bournemouth when Marc Guehi was used in midfield.

Maresca indicated that similar tactical experiments could be considered again if necessary.

His priority is not simply to implement one rigid system. Instead, he wants to find solutions that give Manchester City the best possible chance of winning matches.

Maresca Wants Competition for Every Position

Squad construction is another important part of Maresca’s plans.

With the summer transfer window approaching its final days, the manager has outlined what he considers an ideal squad structure.

His preference is to have two players competing for each position. That arrangement would provide healthy competition while ensuring there is sufficient depth throughout the season.

At the same time, Maresca wants to maintain a pathway for academy players.

Ryan McAidoo, Samba and Kaden Braithwaite are among the young players he wants to keep involved with the first team.

Maresca believes having around three or four academy players within the group provides the right balance between experience, competition and opportunities for younger talent.

A Long Season Could Test the Squad

Manchester City’s squad currently stands at around 21 to 22 players, including several academy prospects.

However, Maresca understands that number may need to change depending on the demands of the season.

The possibility of playing between 60 and 65 matches across the campaign means squad depth could become increasingly important.

Injuries, suspensions, fatigue and fixture congestion can all influence a manager’s options over a long season. Having sufficient competition in every position therefore becomes more than a preference.

It can be essential for maintaining performance levels.

That makes the final days of the transfer window particularly important for Maresca as he assesses whether his current squad is equipped for the challenges ahead.

Man City Still Have Work to Do

Despite the positive signs, Maresca knows Manchester City are not yet the finished product.

The players are still learning new concepts, while the squad itself could potentially change before the transfer window closes.

However, the early evidence has given the manager confidence.

The pressing performance against Bournemouth suggests his defensive ideas are beginning to take hold, while the team’s ability to recover from conceding first showed resilience.

For now, Maresca’s message is clear: Manchester City are moving in the right direction, but there is still plenty of work ahead.

The trip to Crystal Palace will provide another opportunity to see how quickly the squad is adapting to the new tactical demands.

If City can continue improving their pressing, defensive coordination and understanding of Maresca’s philosophy, the foundations of his new era will become increasingly visible.