Manchester City produced a thrilling 5-3 victory over Sunderland, with eight goals making the Premier League clash one to remember. Enzo Fernandez was at the center of the action after scoring a spectacular free-kick and being named Player of the Match.
Yet behind the goals and the individual brilliance, Manchester City were left with a question that could become increasingly important for Enzo Maresca: where is the best position for Fernandez in this new-look midfield?
The Argentina international showed his technical quality throughout the game, but his performance also exposed a problem with City’s balance in central areas.
For a player who arrived for a reported £125 million, Fernandez is expected to become a key part of Manchester City’s new project. The challenge now is finding a system that allows his strengths to shine without leaving the team exposed.
Fernandez Produces a Stunning Free-Kick
Fernandez opened the scoring against Sunderland with a remarkable free-kick.
From an extremely tight angle, the midfielder chose to send the ball directly toward the near post. It was a difficult position from which to attempt a shot, particularly for a right-footed player.
Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs appeared not to anticipate Fernandez going directly for goal. The ball curled around the defensive wall before finding the net.
The strike was Fernandez’s first goal for Manchester City and his first since scoring an equaliser in a World Cup semi-final.
His performance ultimately earned him the Player of the Match award, although the decision was met with a negative reaction from Sunderland supporters.
The goal itself underlined Fernandez’s technical ability. However, the match also demonstrated why his role within City’s midfield still requires careful consideration.
Fernandez Is Showing His Quality at City
Despite the questions surrounding his position, Fernandez has made a positive individual start to life at Manchester City.
The £125 million price tag has not appeared to weigh heavily on him. Instead, he has already shown flashes of the qualities that made him such an important player before arriving at City.
His performance in the Champions League against Porto was another example.
Fernandez produced a clever lofted pass for Erling Haaland’s goal, suggesting that a connection between the Argentine midfielder and City’s prolific striker could develop further.
He also impressed against Manchester United, particularly after City were reduced to 10 players. Rather than disappearing from the game, Fernandez appeared willing to take on greater responsibility.
His role in set-piece situations has also started to grow. After taking the No. 17 shirt previously associated with Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandez has begun taking greater responsibility from dead-ball situations.
These are encouraging signs, but his biggest challenge is not necessarily technical.
It is tactical.
Manchester City Need More Balance in Midfield
The Sunderland game highlighted the other side of Fernandez’s performance.
Manchester City scored five goals, but Sunderland were able to exploit spaces through the middle of the pitch.
Fernandez occasionally moved too far away from the central areas. While some of those movements may have been part of Maresca’s instructions, they also created situations in which City lacked protection in front of the defence.
Elliot Anderson appeared to carry a significant amount of the responsibility for maintaining midfield balance.
When Fernandez moves forward or drifts toward the flank, the space in front of City’s defence can become more vulnerable.
That creates an important tactical question for Maresca.
Fernandez has the qualities to operate as an advanced midfielder, but giving him too much freedom can affect the structure behind him.
The key issue can be summed up in one word: balance.
Maresca used that word after the game, and it reflects one of the major challenges facing Manchester City as they rebuild their midfield.
City’s £326 Million Midfield Investment Still Needs Work
Manchester City’s spending of around £326 million during the summer was designed to help rebuild the midfield.
However, significant investment does not automatically solve every structural problem.
City have lost Rodri, one of the world’s leading defensive midfielders, while Bernardo Silva has also departed. Bernardo’s versatility allowed him to operate in deeper areas alongside Rodri as his role developed.
Their departures have changed the way City need to construct their midfield.
Fernandez adds quality, but his preferred positioning has evolved throughout his career.
During his time at Chelsea, he initially carried considerable defensive responsibility. Over time, however, he increasingly operated in more advanced areas.
At Manchester City, that creates an interesting tactical challenge because the squad also contains Rayan Cherki.
Cherki is one of City’s most creative players and is more comfortable operating as a No. 10.
That means City need enough defensive protection behind him if Maresca wants to give Cherki freedom in the final third.
If Fernandez is also allowed to push forward regularly, the structure behind both players becomes even more important.
Maresca Must Find the Right Formula
The current situation does not necessarily mean Fernandez’s role will become a permanent problem.
The midfielder is still adapting to new teammates and a different team structure. He also already knows Maresca’s football philosophy from their previous experience together.
There is another important consideration: Manchester City had previously recorded four consecutive clean sheets before the Sunderland match.
That suggests the 5-3 victory should not automatically be viewed as evidence of a permanent defensive problem.
Nevertheless, the Sunderland game offered Maresca valuable information.
For years, Manchester City’s midfield under Pep Guardiola was associated with control, numerical superiority in central areas and the ability to dictate the tempo.
Against Sunderland, that control was less consistent.
Anderson at times appeared to be dealing with several opponents while City struggled to maintain the same level of midfield protection.
For Fernandez, the challenge is therefore not simply about scoring goals or creating chances. It is about finding the role that allows him to influence matches while maintaining the team’s overall structure.
Fernandez Can Still Become a Key Piece
The potential remains obvious.
Fernandez has already demonstrated his ability to score spectacular goals, create chances and take responsibility in important moments.
Now Maresca must find the right balance between Fernandez’s attacking freedom, Cherki’s creativity and the defensive protection behind them.
If those elements can work together, Manchester City could develop a highly dangerous midfield.
But if Fernandez regularly vacates central areas without sufficient cover, City’s £125 million investment could expose a structural weakness rather than solve one.
The 5-3 victory over Sunderland therefore offered two very different stories.
There was the spectacular Fernandez goal and the individual quality that earned him the Player of the Match award.
Then there was the larger tactical question facing Maresca.
Finding the answer could be one of the most important tasks in Manchester City’s rebuilding process.
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