Enzo Maresca sends message as Marc Guehi handed surprise new Man City role

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has already made a shock decision in his first Premier League game in charge against Bournemouth.

He replaces legendary boss Pep Guardiola, well known for the odd surprise call, however, Maresca may have him beaten already.

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With City losing a number of stars, including World Cup winner Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Bernardo Silva, and Nico Gonzalez likely to leave, they’re a little light in midfield.

Elliot Anderson is the only major outfield incoming, signing for the club for a British-record £116million.

Meanwhile, pre-match it was revealed that Morocco World Cup star Ayyoub Bouaddi is set to join for £86m.

However, until Bouaddi arrives, a stop-gap was needed and centre-back Marc Guehi was the man to step up, with Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes on the bench.

Guehi sat in alongside Anderson against Bournemouth with Rico Lewis, who has played in midfield before, at right-back.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Ruben Dias are the two centre-backs, with Josko Gvardiol at left-back in the opener.

Phil Foden, Antoine Semenyo, and Nico O’Reilly were in more advanced midfield positions, with Erling Haaland, and his shock new haircut, up top.

Former Premier League and England star Micky Gray believes the decision may well have been due to a lack of physicality in the midfield.

Asked about the move, he said: “I’m scratching my head but Marc Guehi’s playing in that midfield position.

“They’re giving the ball away. Nico O’Reilly’s given the ball away on one or two occasions. Rico Lewis has given the ball away, Gvardiol has been fortunate on a couple of occasions as well and there’s chances there for Bournemouth if they take the game to Man City.

“I’m still working out why he’s playing in central midfield.

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“He’s done okay, I have to say, you probably need that little bit of physicality in that midfield area but I think moving forward it’s certainly something I wouldn’t want to see week in week out.”

Ex-Arsenal star Perry Groves then gave his view.

Asked why he thought Maresca had made the decision, he said: “Probably because Enzo Maresca is sending out a message to the owners that they need to find another Rodri.

“The other thing, I know Nico O’Reilly’s playing as the No.10 but he’s a player that you think if you want that little bit of strength in there he was somebody who was good on the ball when he played at left-back.

“He can go into that inverted midfield area. He’d probably fancy his chances playing in there as well.

“Enzo Maresca will say that because Man City was so open through the centre of their midfield against Arsenal in the Community Shield, that’s why he’s put him in there, because he thinks more defensively just for that bit more sort of protection.

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“But again, it’s not a subtle message to the owners that you need another midfield player.”

Meanwhile, talkSPORT host Sam Matterface added: “I’m not entirely sure whether it is a subtle message to the owners or whether or not he’s just over complicating things.

“Let’s be completely honest, he does have a habit of sort of tinkering around with teams and formations.

“I mean Marc Guehi, I think he did play a bit in central midfield when he was a young kid but he’s been a central defender for a very long time now. So I’m a little bit surprised to see him in there today.”

Bournemouth capitalised on Man City’s poor possession, opening the scoring through Marcus Tavernier, sending them into half-time with a 1-0 lead.