Enzo Maresca's bold decision to play Marc Guehi as a holding midfielder paid off in a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory for Manchester City over Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The former Crystal Palace captain scored a crucial 84th-minute header, while also impressing with his tackling, passing, and dueling stats. Guehi won all three of his tackles, completed 94.9% of his 59 passes, and won eight of his 11 duels.
Maresca's unorthodox team selection raised eyebrows before kick-off, with Guehi initially expected to play in a more traditional defensive role. However, the new City manager stuck to his guns, and it proved to be a masterstroke. Guehi's versatility and adaptability were on full display as he seamlessly transitioned to a new position.
In a post-match interview, Guehi praised Maresca's decision, saying, "It was just an idea the manager had, we worked on it in the week. We're trying different things, trying different solutions for the team. I'm glad today it paid off in the end." The 25-year-old centre-back also admitted he hadn't played in midfield too often, but enjoyed the experience due to the support he received from his teammates.
Maresca was equally impressed with Guehi's performance, stating, "Marc Guehi has never played as a midfielder, today he was very good, so I am happy with the effort from the players. Sometimes you visualise things. I know Marc from Palace and I always thought he could play as a midfielder because he is very good." The Italian manager hinted that Guehi's experiment could be a long-term fix, providing a solution in the middle of the park.
The win marked a welcome respite for City, who had suffered a chastening 3-0 defeat by champions Arsenal in the Community Shield last Sunday. The victory also raised questions about the potential departure of Mateo Kovacic, who was left on the bench by Maresca. The Italian manager refused to comment on the matter, stating he had not yet spoken to the decision-makers.
With the transfer window set to close on 1 September, City have been linked with a number of high-profile signings, including Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. However, Maresca denied any knowledge of the deal, saying, "I have not yet spoken to the decision-makers, so I don't know about the deal."
Former City goalkeeper Joe Hart praised Maresca's willingness to experiment, saying, "I think City look OK. It's obviously interesting when they have had such settled world-class players that they have almost mixed and matched. Anderson and Guehi is an interesting one in midfield but that won't be a long-term thing, especially with Bouaddi coming in."
As City continue to navigate the uncharted waters of Maresca's managerial tenure, one thing is certain – the Italian boss is not afraid to think outside the box and try new things. With a number of high-profile signings still to come, the Premier League is set for an exciting few weeks, and Manchester City will be at the forefront of it all.
Source: Yahoo Sports