Enzo under pressure as Man City’s midfield struggles mount

ENZO FERNANDEZ, Manchester City’s club-record £125 million signing, finds himself at the centre of an emerging midfield crisis as manager Enzo Maresca faces growing calls to restructure his side following three consecutive Premier League defeats.

The Argentine international was brought to the Etihad Stadium from Chelsea in September to help implement Maresca’s high-wire tactical system and lead the club’s new era. Maresca, who previously worked with Fernandez at Stamford Bridge, praised the World Cup winner’s mentality upon his arrival, hailing him as a proven winner.

However, City have stumbled into a difficult patch, conceding 17 goals in their last eight matches across all competitions. The slump has left the Champions League contender six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal following a disappointing defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Maresca’s current tactical setup features Elliot Anderson as a lone defensive pivot, Rayan Cherki operating as an advanced playmaker, and Fernandez positioned on the right side of midfield. The fluid, attack-minded structure aims to isolate opposition full-backs through aggressive man-to-man pressing, drawing inspiration from Luis Enrique’s dual Champions League-winning Paris Saint-Germain side.

Despite the intent, critics and observers point to severe defensive vulnerabilities exposed by the setup. Chief City writer Simon Bajkowski highlighted the tactical imbalance on the Talking City podcast, noting that individual errors and lack of defensive coverage have left the backline overexposed.

“At the minute, Anderson is a six and is not being able to do everything he is asked to do. Cherki is playing as a 10 well in front of him and Fernandez is playing as a seven almost, to the right side of the midfield, and no-one is helping Anderson,” Bajkowski said. “There is no strength or solidity in midfield.”

The mounting defensive issues have intensified calls for 19-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi to be integrated into the Premier League starting line-up. Bouaddi impressed with a composure-restoring second-half performance against PSG earlier this season and produced an eye-catching display against Porto.

Dropping Fernandez to introduce Bouaddi’s defensive insurance would represent a massive tactical call for Maresca, given the financial outlay and personal trust invested in the former Chelsea midfielder. With City’s defensive fragility laid bare, pressure is building on the Italian manager to make tough selections before their title aspirations slip further out of reach.

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