Guardiola would lose his mind at Maresca’s bizarre Premier debut XI

Enzo Maresca, the new manager of Manchester City, unveiled his first Premier League starting eleven at the Etihad against Bournemouth, a line‑up that left observers gasping at the bold departures from Pep Guardiola’s established style.

Unexpected selections raise eyebrows

CityDave Thompson / Ap-LaPressePablo Jefe Los reported that many had assumed Maresca’s time on Pep Guardiola’s staff made him the ideal heir to the City philosophy, yet the Italian’s debut eleven defied those expectations. The squad featured goalkeeper Donnarumma and a back four of Rico Lewis, Khusanov, Ruben Dias and Gvardiol, a configuration far from the norm.

Midfield reshuffle after Rodri’s exit

The first major question after Rodri’s departure was who would fill the central midfield role. To the surprise of most, Maresca placed Marc Guéhi, a player originally signed as a central defender last winter, into that midfield slot. This choice highlighted the manager’s willingness to repurpose recent signings for new responsibilities.

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Positional experiments across the pitch

Nico O'Reilly, previously converted by Guardiola from a central midfielder to a left‑back and praised for his performances with England at the World Cup, was deployed as an attacking midfielder alongside Phil Foden and Semenyo on the flanks. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland appeared with an unexpected new haircut, a visual cue of the altered aesthetic Maresca seems to be promoting.

Guardiola also expressed amazement at the new image of Haaland, noting the departure from his familiar look. The overall tactical direction under Maresca appears to favour quicker, more vertical attacks rather than the patient build‑up traditionally associated with City.

According to Santpedor, the lineup would have driven him “to lose his mind”, as it sits on the opposite end of what Pep might have envisaged for this squad. The reaction underscores the stark contrast between Maresca’s experimental approach and the expectations set by the previous regime, a divergence that could reshape the Premier narrative for City.