Enzo Maresca begins to shape Man City with a new style.

Enzo Maresca is making his mark at Manchester City during a phase that could be seen as a challenging transition following the departure of Pep Guardiola, who spent a decade shaping the team. Maresca's approach suggests a continuity in the philosophy of his mentor, but it is already possible to notice the emergence of his own style in the pre-season games of the English side.

To understand Maresca's strategy, it is essential to keep in mind the principles that guided Guardiola. Although many see him as someone who clings to a single approach, Guardiola has always been dynamic in his style of play, prioritizing ball possession and basing his game on player positioning. Domenec Torrent, Guardiola's former assistant, defined positional play as “the way you position yourself relative to others on the pitch when you have the ball, and where you should be to continue pressing when you lose it.” This philosophy also includes rest defense, with players strategically positioned to defend against quick counter-attacks.

In Maresca's debut, City recorded 64% possession in a match against Inter Milan, demonstrating that the new approach maintains Guardiola's principles. However, Maresca introduced a new formation, the 3-2-2-3, which he had previously used at Chelsea. This structure allows three defenders to maintain possession and cover the width of the pitch, while two midfielders support both attack and defense in quick transitions.

An important innovation in Maresca's system is the use of wingers who remain wide and high, resisting the temptation to retreat. Nico Gonzalez, after an intense match against the K-League All-Stars, stated: “I think the idea is clear. We try to get to the wings. We have a lot of quality in the wingers.” This strategy contrasts with how Guardiola utilized more centralized wingers in his last season, returning to a style reminiscent of the time of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sané in 2017.

Marti Perarnau, a friend of Guardiola and journalist, recalls the difficulties the coach faced in convincing the wingers to stay wide, an approach that Maresca seems to be revitalizing. Guardiola described the process as “difficult,” emphasizing the importance of patience and proper positioning. With Maresca at the helm, City fans can expect a football style that blends Guardiola's legacy with innovative touches that promise to bring new life to the team. The evolution of City under Maresca will undoubtedly be a topic to follow in the coming weeks.