Coach Enzo Maresca did not need to wait until the post-match press conference to talk about the need to strengthen the force. The decision to pull Marc Guehi from the defense up to play midfielder on the Premier League opening day partly reflected Man City's personnel situation.
In just one week, the Manchester team successively parted ways with Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders, while Bernardo Silva also left the club. Therefore, when Bournemouth traveled to Etihad, Maresca had to arrange for new player Elliot Anderson to play alongside Guehi and Nico O'Reilly.
Guehi admitted he was surprised by this decision. However, this is the option that Maresca is forced to choose in the context that Man City's midfield is lacking personnel.
The Italian coach's gamble almost backfired. Man City deployed the ball slowly, lacked connection and encountered many difficulties against Bournemouth for most of the time. It was not until Rayan Cherki came on in the second half that the game changed.
The French player assisted Guehi to score the equalizer, before making a decisive pass for Josko Gvardiol to complete the comeback in the 90+1 minute. Cherki's second assist was an excellent moment, and also showed that Man City needed individuals capable of making a difference in deadlock times.
This is a process going on. Everything is progressing day by day. Currently, I don't have an ideal 11-player squad" - Maresca said after the match.
When asked about using Guehi in midfield, he only called it "a solution". Maresca clearly does not see this as a long-term option.
The Citizens have reached an agreement worth 100 million Euros with Lille to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old midfielder impressed at the 2026 World Cup with Morocco, but still lacks experience at club level and has never played in the Premier League.
Bouaddi will join Man City when this team is in the process of change. Maresca's appearance on the coaching bench replacing Pep Guardiola has been a major turning point, but force fluctuations have made the transition process even more complicated.
Rodri is a particularly large loss. Man City could earn more than £65 million from a 30-year-old player who only has one year left on his contract and has had injuries. However, losing an experienced midfielder like Rodri makes it very difficult for Maresca to manage.
Maresca once said he wanted to find "a new Rodri". But finding a player who can recreate the Spanish midfielder's influence is certainly not easy, especially when the transfer window is only a few days away. After the match, he even joked that Guehi is the "new Rodri". The England international plays not badly in midfield, but clearly this is not a long-term solution.
No longer Rodri, Bernardo Silva or John Stones, Man City fielded the youngest squad on the Premier League opening day since 2008. Man City still won 3 points, but this victory could not hide the lack of cohesion in the playing style.
From now until September 1st, Man City may still experience many changes. New players will arrive, some may leave, while many key players have not yet reached their best condition after the World Cup.
Therefore, Man City's ability to compete for the championship is still a big question mark. Can they quickly return to the familiar race, or are they entering a transitional season with a more realistic goal of winning a Champions League spot?
