🚨 Enzo Maresca x Manchester City 🔹 Evolving in attack from a rigid...
EBL@EBL2017
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Aug 19, 2026
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🚨 Enzo Maresca x Manchester City
🔹 Evolving in attack from a rigid 3-2-5 into a fluid 3-1-6,
🔹 The new-found zonal press against a back 4,
🔹 The offside trap when defending their box,
🔹 And how to maintain the level without Bernardo + Rodri.
A tactical analysis thread 👇
🔹 Evolving in attack from a rigid 3-2-5 into a fluid 3-1-6,
🔹 The new-found zonal press against a back 4,
🔹 The offside trap when defending their box,
🔹 And how to maintain the level without Bernardo + Rodri.
A tactical analysis thread 👇
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Good to see Enzo Maresca shifting towards a more dynamic offensive shape than the rigid 3-2-5.
Much more City and Guardiola of last season like yesterday as they played a 3-1-6 with Gvardiol inverting into midfield and Nunes tucked into the back 3.
Makes them harder to press.
Much more City and Guardiola of last season like yesterday as they played a 3-1-6 with Gvardiol inverting into midfield and Nunes tucked into the back 3.
Makes them harder to press.
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Defensively, it was the first time we the 4-2-4 zonal press against a back 4.
The intention?
Invert the wide players with the #9 + #10 managing the opposition #6's.
Fullbacks back up the press on the side with the centre backs coming across to manage the wingers.
It CAN work.
The intention?
Invert the wide players with the #9 + #10 managing the opposition #6's.
Fullbacks back up the press on the side with the centre backs coming across to manage the wingers.
It CAN work.
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But the new-found Enzo Maresca zonal press is not without its issues.
When the wingers don't invert to get pressure on the ball, the #9 and #10 are often too passive which can see the opposition centre backs have time on the ball.
From here, they can hurt City's defensive idea.
When the wingers don't invert to get pressure on the ball, the #9 and #10 are often too passive which can see the opposition centre backs have time on the ball.
From here, they can hurt City's defensive idea.
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Alternatively, when City's wingers invert to press at the 'wrong' time i.e., when the fullback is pinned, it frees up the opposition fullback on their side with the midfield 2 having an abnormal amount of distance to cover down the sides (which is also why opposition #6's picking up these spaces is smart).
Manchester United had the same defensive issues under Erik ten Hag.
Manchester United had the same defensive issues under Erik ten Hag.
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When the winger successfully tracks back in that moment and the opposition play backwards, all it means is that the opponent has time and space on the ball at centre back because of how passive the #9 and #10 are.
The wingers are left in 2v1 situations constantly…
The wingers are left in 2v1 situations constantly…
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Plus, when the opposition #6's drop into the first lines of build-up, City's #9 + #10 will be more aggressive to get pressure on the ball, but they remain overloaded by the centre backs on top of that.
We have now seen the Enzo Maresca press suffer vs a back 4 AND a back 5…
We have now seen the Enzo Maresca press suffer vs a back 4 AND a back 5…
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Interestingly, Michael Carrick and Manchester United are pressing the same way in pre-season…
It can work for sure, especially higher up the pitch, but both City and United lack central triggers to transition into a man-to-man press.
They are overly reliant on wide triggers.
It can work for sure, especially higher up the pitch, but both City and United lack central triggers to transition into a man-to-man press.
They are overly reliant on wide triggers.
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Both City and United are forced to defend passively in a 4-4-2 when their wingers can't invert because they don't have that centre back ➡️ #10, #6 ➡️ #6, and #10 ➡️ centre back trigger.
I'd argue that this is even more troublesome for Maresca's City than it is Carrick's United…
I'd argue that this is even more troublesome for Maresca's City than it is Carrick's United…
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Manchester United are more accepting of and comfortable at defending low so they can hurt teams on the counter-attack.
City? It's not in their DNA. In fact, Maresca plays an offside trap at the edge of his own box.
It can work, but when it doesn't it is catastrophic…
City? It's not in their DNA. In fact, Maresca plays an offside trap at the edge of his own box.
It can work, but when it doesn't it is catastrophic…
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However, the same could be said for City's defensive approach last season.
It was consistently exploited, but Pep's team didn't have to defend very often because they were so dominant with the ball.
If Maresca continues with the 3-1-6, this will help that occur this season.
It was consistently exploited, but Pep's team didn't have to defend very often because they were so dominant with the ball.
If Maresca continues with the 3-1-6, this will help that occur this season.
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However, without Bernardo & Rodri, the two biggest factors behind being so hard to press, it will make City less dominant in that moment.
It is just not possible to find direct replacements for these players.
We are talking about all-time greats here.
It's a cause for concern.
It is just not possible to find direct replacements for these players.
We are talking about all-time greats here.
It's a cause for concern.
