Enzo Fernandez was voted the best player of the match in Man City's 5-3 victory over Sunderland. However, the performance at the Etihad raised many questions about the role of the Argentine midfielder in Man City's squad.
If the match had ended after 10 minutes, Fernandez would probably have won the best player award convincingly. He opened the score with a bold free kick, sending the ball over the wall and into the near corner, making goalkeeper Robin Roefs unable to react in time.
However, the remaining 80 minutes showed another Fernandez. When Sunderland continuously put pressure in the midfield area, Man City lost control, which was once characteristic under Pep Guardiola. Fernandez also had difficulty maintaining his position and connecting with his teammates.
This is not the first time Fernandez has shown his ability to adapt quickly to Man City. He once played well in the match against Porto in the Champions League, assisting Erling Haaland to score and forming a connection with the Norwegian striker. In the Manchester derby, Fernandez also played effectively when Man City had to play with one less player.
However, the match against Sunderland raises another question: Where does Man City need Fernandez to play?
The Argentine midfielder is sometimes asked to move wide to the right wing, making him more like a winger than a player controlling the central area. When Sunderland dominates in midfield, Elliot Anderson almost has to operate alone and face many difficulties against a large number of opposing players.
Coach Enzo Maresca after the match emphasized the word "balance". Man City has not yet regained the balance that has helped their midfield control the match for many years.
The Citizens have spent about 326 million pounds to refresh the midfield in the past time. They also parted ways with Rodri, the world's top defensive midfielder, and Bernardo Silva, a player who is capable of playing many roles. Among the midfielders who have left Etihad, Tijjani Reijnders has a playing style closest to Fernandez.
This leads to an important question: Does Man City really need another attacking midfielder like Fernandez?
Fernandez was once used by Chelsea as a defensive midfielder before gradually being pushed higher. Meanwhile, Rayan Cherki is becoming one of Man City's important players in the number 10 position. The French international can promote his creativity when there are teammates behind him taking care of defensive tasks.
If Fernandez is given more freedom, Anderson is at risk of having to shoulder most of the defensive tasks in the midfield area. Conversely, if Maresca asks Fernandez to play lower and hold a tighter position, his attacking ability may not be maximized.
Of course, it is still too early to draw a conclusion. Fernandez has only had a short period of time to get acquainted with the system and new teammates. Man City also just experienced a special match when they let Sunderland score 3 goals after a 4-match clean sheet streak.
But the performance at Etihad shows that Fernandez needs a clearer role. After many years of controlling the match thanks to strength in midfield, Man City is having to find balance under Maresca. With a price of 125 million pounds, Fernandez is expected to become a part of that process, instead of making the midfield structure more difficult to shape.
