Maresca aims to close gap on Arsenal as Arteta praises new City boss
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has stated his intention to reduce the gap on Arsenal in his first season, following Pep Guardiola’s departure. Maresca takes charge after City finished seven points behind the Premier League champions last term. The two teams recently met in the Community Shield in Cardiff, a fixture that served as a preview for the upcoming season and a new rivalry between Maresca and Mikel Arteta.
Arteta, the Arsenal manager, described Maresca as “just as good” as his predecessor, Guardiola, highlighting his familiarity with the new City boss. Arteta also emphasized the importance of the Community Shield as a valid trophy that can set the tone for the season. He noted the hunger of his players, many of whom returned earlier than expected for pre-season training and are in good physical condition.
Maresca’s tactical approach at City
Maresca’s appointment at Manchester City suggests a continuation of certain tactical principles, though with his own distinct style. His philosophy mirrors Guardiola’s in prioritizing ball possession, pushing play towards the opponent’s goal, and emphasizing positional play. This approach was evident in City’s pre-season, including their match against Inter Milan where they maintained 64% possession.
In Maresca’s system, players maintain clearly defined positions on the ball. Like Guardiola, he champions positional play, ensuring that four or five players, typically three defenders and holding midfielders, remain behind the ball during attacks to maintain a strong ‘rest defence’. This strategy aims to protect against counter-attacks.
However, Maresca’s system also introduces differences. On the ball, City adopts a 3-2-2-3 formation, a shape Maresca previously utilized while managing Chelsea. This rigid positional style features three defenders in the first line, capable of ball distribution and covering the width defensively. Two midfielders operate in front of them, tasked with ball progression, screening the defence, and quick counter-pressing if possession is lost. One midfielder is often given license to contribute to the attack, with Mateo Kovacic frequently sitting at the base of midfield.
A key aspect of Maresca’s system involves wingers staying high and wide, resisting the urge to drift centrally. This contrasts with Guardiola’s later approach, where wingers often played more narrowly. Nico Gonzalez confirmed this strategy, noting the team’s focus on getting the ball to the wingers due to their quality. This tactic aims to isolate wingers against single full-backs, creating one-on-one situations, a concept Guardiola himself discussed years prior.
Despite the emphasis on wide play, central players remain crucial. If opponents double-mark wingers, space is expected to open up centrally for attackers like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki. Maresca has also instructed players like Josko Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly to move from full-back positions into attacking midfield roles when City has possession, contributing to goals from inside the box.
Community Shield defeat and team news
Maresca’s first competitive match as City boss resulted in a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield. Riccardo Calafiori scored for Arsenal early in the match, followed by a goal from Kai Havertz and a finish from Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. Maresca acknowledged the need for his team to learn from the defeat, particularly regarding the first two goals conceded.
Ahead of the Community Shield, Maresca confirmed that Erling Haaland was fit to feature despite a minor heel issue, and that most players were available, though some had only recently returned from their summer break. For Arsenal, Arteta confirmed that, apart from injured players Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, the squad had a clean bill of health, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi, who had not yet played in pre-season friendlies.
Reports suggested that Rice, Saka, and Zubimendi might start on the bench for Arsenal, potentially playing the final half an hour. This could open up a midfield spot for Bruno Guimaraes. Other players like Christos Tzolis and Max Dowman were also expected to get playing time. City’s pre-season ended with a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on August 9.
The Community Shield match was played on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Source: skysports.com
