Enzo Maresca, the new manager of Manchester City, faces a challenging task as he steps into the role previously held by the highly successful Pep Guardiola.
His appointment has led many to speculate that he will maintain a similar tactical philosophy.
However, while Maresca takes inspiration from his former mentor, he is beginning to develop a distinct style that has been evident throughout City’s pre-season.
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Maresca’s Principles Reflect Guardiola’s
To grasp Maresca’s philosophy at City, it’s essential to consider Guardiola’s approach.
Contrary to some beliefs, Guardiola’s methods were not fixed to one style; he adhered to core principles but was adaptable in execution.
These principles emphasized ball possession, keeping it away from his own goal and driving it toward the opponent’s. His tactical framework was also rooted in positional play.
Domenec Torrent, a long-time assistant to Guardiola, defined positional play as “how you position yourself relative to others on the field with the ball, and where to be to effectively press when losing it.”
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Coaches deploy tactics based on player positioning to create advantages for their teams.
A vital element of this strategy is strong defensive positioning, ensuring teammates remain ready to defend against counter-attacks while the team is on the offense.
Maresca’s Manchester City displays these same principles, exemplified by their 64% possession in their opening match against Inter Milan.
During attacking phases, players in Maresca’s formation occupy clear roles instead of freely drifting across the field, demonstrating a commitment to positional play similar to Guardiola’s.
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We’ve observed Maresca’s setup leave four to five players—including three defenders and holding midfielders—behind the ball during attacks to maintain a solid defensive structure.
Maresca’s City maintain a solid shape, with the five highlighted players well-positioned to launch attacks while defending against counter threats.
However, His System Differs from Guardiola’s…
In possession, Maresca opts for a 3-2-2-3 structure, a tactic he previously employed during his time at Chelsea.
This system features three defenders at the back, capable of ball distribution, while also providing defensive coverage across the pitch.
Two midfielders in front facilitate ball progression, shield the defense, and engage in quick counter-pressing upon losing possession.
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Maresca allows one of these midfielders to join the attack at times—recently, Tijjani Reijnders was given this freedom, while Mateo Kovacic held a deeper role.
Here we see City’s 3-2-2-3 shape in action during a match against K-League All Stars, showcasing Rico Lewis’s transition from right-back to midfield to enhance attacking play.
The Importance of Wide Wingers in Maresca’s System
In front of this 3-1 or 3-2 base, wingers are instructed to stay positioned high and wide, eschewing the typical tendency to drift inside, which is crucial to Maresca’s tactical framework.
Nico Gonzalez, after a challenging match against K-League All-Stars, emphasized this point by saying, “The idea is clear; we aim to get the ball to the wingers, as we have immense quality there.”
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In Guardiola’s last season, wings were often utilized in a narrow role, a tactic influenced by the quality of players available.
In contrast, Maresca’s approach promotes the use of wide wingers, reminiscent of the styles seen with Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane back in 2017.
During an encounter with Atletico Madrid, we observe City establishing a 3-1 base, with wingers Antoine Semenyo on the left and Savinho on the right remaining high and wide.
Guardiola’s acquaintance and journalist Marti Perarnau captured Guardiola’s thoughts on utilizing wide wingers in the 2016-17 season.
As per Perarnau’s documentation in The Pep Revolution, Guardiola stated, “Convincing the wingers to stay wide is challenging. They need to be patient; their time to shine will arrive.”
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“When they do get their chance, they should consider how many defenders they will need to bypass. The optimal answer is just one. We’ve structured our play so that wingers only need to beat one defender, but if they wander too far inside, they could be faced with four.”
Guardiola’s insights from a decade ago resonate clearly with Maresca’s current philosophy, demonstrating that these strategies still hold weight.
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Throughout pre-season, Antoine Semenyo, stationed on the wing, has been a standout performer, frequently receiving the ball in positions allowing him to drive at defenders. These opportunities often enabled him to approach the box and set up goals for teammates by delivering cross-backs behind the defense.
For those supporting the wingers, the game is distilled into creating these advantageous situations.
Maresca’s Use of Central Areas
While this wingers-focused method takes precedence, the players in central positions have significant roles as well.
When opposing players double down on the wingers, it creates openings for players in the middle, allowing skillful attackers like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki to exploit these spaces.
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Maresca has instructed Josko Gvardiol to push up from left-back into a left attacking-midfield role when in possession, facilitating the creation of a box-shape in midfield.
Both he and Nico O’Reilly have exhibited a commendable ability to contribute to goal-scoring opportunities after moving inside from the flanks, a tactic likely to be a hallmark of City’s play this season.
Gvardiol frequently advances from the left-back position into a more central attacking role under Maresca’s strategy.
A Continuation of City’s 4-2-4 Structure
In terms of defensive tactics, noticeable changes from Maresca are more apparent compared to his Chelsea tenure.
At Chelsea, he primarily employed a man-to-man pressing system. However, in pre-season, we’ve observed City maintaining a high defensive line but adopting a more zonal defense—a tactic they utilized last season.
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The starting defensive shape has resembled a 4-2-4, with players initiating pressing based on specific cues.
City begins in a zonal 4-2-4 setup, as highlighted before the press is initiated by Foden against the goalkeeper.
Reflecting on pre-season adjustments, Maresca observed, “Previously, teams defending usually solved challenges using man-to-man marking. Now, teams aiming to build play are seeking solutions against those man-to-man scenarios. Change is definitely on the horizon.”
His shift towards a more zonal defensive approach suggests a strategy to prepare his players for upcoming matches where man-to-man defenses may become prevalent.
During the preseason, this aspect of City’s game has appeared vulnerable, with players in central and full-back positions sometimes covering excessive ground, leading to defensive gaps.
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Like any pressing system, the effectiveness of this strategy will improve as players become more attuned to their roles and as overall fitness levels enhance.
It’s worth noting that this area of play was a consistent focus for Guardiola last season as he aimed to find a satisfactory solution.
A Unique Yet Familiar New Era
Maresca’s appointment following Guardiola serves as both a continuation and evolution of the team’s established identity and principles.
The 3-2-2-3 formation was instrumental in City’s treble-winning season. The emphasis on high and wide wingers, providing multiple one-on-one opportunities, and the focus on cut-backs were synonymous with City’s centurion campaign.
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Moreover, the tactic of full-backs transitioning into central attacking roles and contributing within the box has been a hallmark across several of City’s successful campaigns—including their 2025-26 strategy, which featured a 4-2-4 defensive setup.
While Maresca’s tactical approach is distinctive, it intriguingly draws on the dynamics of City’s past decade, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter.