Life without Pep Guardiola looks bleak for Manchester City if the Community Shield was anything to go by, but Enzo Maresca can take solace in knowing that the annual unofficial curtain raiser is rarely an indicator of things to come.
However, Arsenal’s 3–0 walkover in Cardiff laid bare the size of the job at Maresca’s disposal. The Italian has the task of succeeding a genius at the Etihad Stadium, inheriting a roster that has changed rather drastically over the past 18 months.
It’s clear that City still have work to do in the transfer market to cultivate a team that’s capable of challenging, but those potential reinforcements won’t arrive in time for Sunday’s clash with Bournemouth.
The Cityzens open their Premier League account on home soil against the Cherries, who are preparing for their first taste of European soccer this term after finishing sixth last season.
Here’s how City could lineup this weekend.
Man City Predicted XI vs. Bournemouth
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma—Donnarumma couldn’t even use a World Cup hangover to excuse his performance last weekend. Man City have fully committed to the Italian by selling James Trafford, so he needs to repay them with a string of sturdy performances to begin the year.
RB: Matheus Nunes—The converted midfielder was a big miss against the Gunners, but Maresca has confirmed that Nunes is back fit for Sunday’s match.
CB: Rúben Dias—There are factions of City supporters keen to see the back of Dias, yet the new manager will likely lean on the Portuguese’s leadership at the start of his tenure.
CB: Marc Guéhi—After a woeful defensive showing last time out, it‘d be silly not to include the serene Guéhi in Sunday’s starting lineup. The Englishman was among those who had a limited preseason due to England’s deep World Cup progression.
LB: Joško Gvardiol—Nico O’Reilly has played his way out of the starting lineup, with Gvardiol’s security preferred. The Croat can’t supply what O’Reilly offers in possession, but he’s shown before that he can contribute in the final third from left back.
CM: Elliot Anderson—A mammoth price tag means expectations are sky-high for Anderson, who’s so far been profiled by Maresca as a lite iteration of Kevin De Bruyne. That’s not the midfielder he is, so the Italian must consider a midfield tweak.
CM: Mateo Kovačić—As poor as he was last time out, Kovačić has worked his way into the new manager’s good books, leapfrogging Nico González in the depth chart. City are hoping to sign two midfielders before the deadline.
RW: Rayan Cherki—Jérémy Doku’s absence and Savinho’s departure leave City with a hole out wide. Instead of pivoting to youth or Jack Grealish, we could see Cherki start wide right but drift inside to combine with the No. 10. Nunes must get up and down.
AM: Phil Foden—Maresca stymied Cole Palmer at Chelsea, so it’ll be interesting to see how Foden fares under him, especially considering the Englishman‘s need to enjoy a bounce-back campaign.
LW: Antoine Semenyo—Started on the right last Sunday, Semenyo lines up against his former club for the second time since departing in January. It was the Cherries who crushed City’s title dream at the end of last season, and there’s no doubt the versatile winger will be determined to haunt his former employers on Sunday.
ST: Erling Haaland—The £15.5 million Fantasy Premier League (FPL) man has a sensational record in August, scoring 22 times in 14 matches. However, never before has Haaland started a new season off the back of a major tournament. He was withdrawn before the hour mark in the Community Shield.
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