Enzo Maresca’s early Manchester City side appears to retain many of Pep Guardiola’s core ideas, including possession, positional play and protection against counter-attacks. However, the article argues that Maresca is developing a more distinct structure, particularly through a rigid 3-2-2-3 shape in possession and greater emphasis on wide attackers.

City had 64% possession in Maresca’s first match against Inter Milan, while typically leaving four or five players behind the ball to maintain defensive security. Three defenders and two midfielders form the base of the system, with one midfielder sometimes joining attacks; Rico Lewis has also moved in from right-back to help create the shape. Unlike Guardiola’s increasingly narrow wingers in his final season, Maresca wants wide players to stay high and wide, using them as a central route for attacking moves.