Manchester City’s Struggling Squad Raises Concerns Under Enzo Maresca

The Community Shield may not always be a reliable indicator of a team’s future success, but Manchester City’s defeat to Arsenal in the season opener has raised some red flags for Enzo Maresca, the team’s new manager.

While it’s true that no team has gone on to win the league after lifting the Community Shield since 2018, City’s performance against the league champions was particularly concerning. Arsenal, who have had a less strenuous pre-season than City, looked sharp and slick in their passing, which was a welcome change from last season.

City, on the other hand, were a rabble, struggling to defend and lacking focus in their attacking play. The second goal, which Arsenal scored with ease, was particularly worrying, as it highlighted the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.

One of the main issues that needs to be addressed is the midfield, which looked woefully short of quality and organization. Rodri, the team’s key midfielder, is set to leave for Barcelona, and his replacement, Enzo Fernández, failed to make an impact. The loss of Rodri’s organizational abilities will be particularly felt, as he was the glue that held the team together.

The squad as a whole looks a little short, with only two defenders over 25 years old, and a lack of depth in midfield. The £200m spree in January 2025 may have helped to plug some of the gaps, but the players who were brought in during that period have failed to impress.

Maresca must have looked at Arsenal’s squad and despaired at the options available to him in midfield. The team’s current form suggests that they may be in for a long and difficult season, and it’s unclear how far clear they will be by the time they finally click into gear.

The evidence of Sunday’s game is that this may be a very bad time for Maresca to have replaced Pep Guardiola, who was slowly passing his peak but still managed to keep the team competitive. Taking over from a legend is always challenging, but these are starting to look like they may be very bad circumstances.