Man City’s dream team under Enzo Maresca as four new players change Pep Guardiola’s old squad
Manchester City looks set for a season of change after their legendary manager Pep Guardiola left at the end of last season. He was replaced by his former assistant, Enzo Maresca. Maresca made a great start to his managerial career by winning the Championship with Leicester City, and then took the top job at Chelsea, where he won the Club World Cup.
Although Maresca once worked under Guardiola, he’s bringing his own style to City, which means the team might need some new players. At 46, Maresca has one of the toughest jobs in football, taking over from a manager who won 18 trophies in eight years, including an amazing season with 100 points and a treble.
In Maresca’s first preseason game, City faced Inter Milan in a Champions League final replay from their treble season, and they lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
So, who could Maresca sign to build his Dream XI?
**Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnaruma**
The goalkeeper spot is likely to stay with Donnaruma. He joined last summer and quickly became the main goalie, outperforming James Trafford, who might leave for Leeds. Donnaruma is considered one of the best in the world and kept 15 clean sheets last season.
**Right Back: Malo Gusto**
Maresca might bring in Malo Gusto, a player he knows well from Chelsea, to help with the right back position. Gusto played a big part in Chelsea’s recent trophies, making 41 appearances last season.
**Left Back: Nico O’Reilly**
On the left, academy player Nico O’Reilly is expected to keep his spot. He showed great promise last season, filling in brilliantly and making 55 appearances with a good number of goal contributions.
**Center Backs: Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov**
Marc Guehi, a recent signing, has settled well and earned a spot with England. Alongside him could be Abdukodir Khusanov, who improved a lot last season and fits well with City’s high defensive line.
**Defensive Midfielders: Elliot Anderson and Ayouub Bouaddi**
Rodri is likely to leave for Real Madrid, so 120-million-pound World Cup star Elliot Anderson looks set to take one defensive midfield spot. City might also sign 18-year-old Ayouub Bouaddi from Lille, who impressed at the World Cup with Morocco. There’s talk he might stay at Lille on loan for another year while City decides.
**Left Wing: Jérémy Doku**
Doku looks like the main option on the left wing, especially with some players like Savinho and Omar Marmoush expected to leave. He found good form last season with 5 goals and 5 assists in 19 starts.
**Central Attacking Midfielder: Phil Foden**
Phil Foden, a City academy star, needs to regain his top form after a quieter last season. If he struggles, Rayan Cherki, who provided 12 assists in 19 games, could take his place.
**Right Wing: Anthoine Semenyo**
Semenyo, who scored 17 goals in the Premier League after joining from Bournemouth, is likely to start on the right side. He loves to cut inside and score.
**Striker: Erling Haaland**
Up front will be Erling Haaland, entering his fifth season with City. The Norwegian is a goal machine, having scored 162 goals in 198 games for the club and will be a key player for the new system.
Since City has spent a lot already this season, big changes in the starting lineup seem unlikely, but some backup players might join, especially if a few attackers leave. This season might be just the start of a transition for the club.
**How will the team play?**
Maresca will stick to attacking football with a high defensive line and intense pressing, much like Guardiola. The team will likely use a 4-2-3-1 formation, which can switch to a 3-2-4-1 or even a more aggressive 2-2-4-2 during attacks.
One big change could be in how the full-backs play, moving to a more traditional style instead of Guardiola’s inverted full-backs. This will work well with the midfielders – Elliot Anderson playing a box-to-box role but slightly deeper, while the full-backs provide width.
**Why this style?**
On the right side, Gusto could overlap as a classic full-back, supporting Semenyo who moves inside. On the left, there will be more direct crossing from Doku, with O’Reilly joining the attack in the box alongside Haaland.
This creates a strong attacking setup that keeps the field wide and lets the midfield, especially Foden, find space. It’s a slightly different system but still focuses on attacking football.
**Who benefits most?**
The approach suits players like Doku and Foden, who can stretch the pitch and create chances. O’Reilly and Haaland occupy defenders, giving Foden space to work near the edge of the box.
Overall, Maresca’s style looks similar but with some new ideas and players. He might even use inverted full-backs like before but seems ready to try something fresh with City. It’s sure to be an interesting season as they build a new chapter after Guardiola!