Maresca’s Manchester City start raises early concerns

Manchester City’s Community Shield defeat to Arsenal may not define the season ahead, but it did offer an alarming first indication of the scale of Enzo Maresca’s task. In the first major outing after Pep Guardiola’s departure, City looked disjointed, vulnerable and short of control against the league champions.

A difficult first impression for Maresca

There are obvious reasons not to overreact. The Community Shield has often proved a poor guide to what follows, and Arsenal arrived looking sharper after a less demanding pre-season schedule. Even so, City’s display was troubling because the issues went beyond rustiness.

Replacing Guardiola was always going to be one of the hardest jobs in football. His influence at City was not only about results, but about a highly specific and constantly evolving style of play. Maresca knows that world well, having worked as Guardiola’s assistant, yet familiarity does not guarantee a smooth handover. What City produced here suggested a team still searching for structure and clarity.

Most concerning was the defensive performance. Arsenal were crisp in possession and looked more fluid than they often did last season, but City made life far too easy for them. They lacked intensity, concentration and cohesion, particularly without the ball.

Defensive flaws exposed on the right

The second Arsenal goal summed up the wider problem. Martin Ødegaard was allowed the time to pick his cross, Christos Tzolis drifted away from Abdukodir Khusanov, and Kai Havertz then moved clear of Rúben Dias. Khusanov can point to the fact that right-back is not his usual role, but the broader issue was collective: City were repeatedly slow to react and looked off the pace throughout.

That right side also suffered from a structural weakness. Elliot Anderson, operating on the right of the midfield pair, struggled to contain Riccardo Calafiori’s forward runs. Calafiori scored the first goal and his movement was also important in the third. For a full-back to have that level of influence, especially one given licence to move inside, reflected badly on City’s organisation.

Arsenal deserve credit for their sharpness, but City’s lack of focus was impossible to ignore. If Maresca’s side are serious about competing at the top, they cannot afford to spend the opening phase of the campaign trying to catch up while rivals settle quickly.

Midfield uncertainty remains unresolved

The biggest strategic concern may be in midfield. Rodri was an unused substitute amid the uncertainty surrounding his expected move to Barcelona, with City having accepted a bid. His possible departure would remove not only one of the team’s best players, but also a major source of order and control.

Mateo Kovacic filled in for Rodri for long periods last season, but the sense from this performance is that City need more than a temporary solution. Enzo Fernández appeared to be a possible answer after working with Maresca at Chelsea, yet no bid was made before Chelsea’s deadline for a sale. Add the loss of Bernardo Silva into the equation and the midfield suddenly looks light both in quality and balance.

A squad that looks thinner than before

There is also a broader question about depth. City still have attacking midfield options, but the squad appears less complete than in previous years. Omar Marmoush has not fully convinced as support for Erling Haaland, while several of the players brought in during the January 2025 spending spree have yet to establish themselves as indispensable figures.

• City were beaten by Arsenal in the Community Shield.
• Rodri is set to complete a move to Barcelona, with City having accepted a bid.
• Enzo Fernández was seen as a possible replacement, but City did not bid before Chelsea’s deadline.
• City’s defending and midfield balance were major concerns in Maresca’s first high-profile outing.

It is far too early to draw definitive conclusions from one match, particularly one that sits awkwardly between pre-season and the start of the campaign. But while the Community Shield does not always predict the future, this was still a deeply unconvincing beginning. For Maresca, the challenge is no longer theoretical. It is already visible on the pitch.