Maresca's Man City problems are more than a missing midfield

Enzo Maresca spoke of his desire to "close the gap" between Manchester City and Arsenal before watching his side suffer a painful 3-0 defeat in the Community Shield on Sunday. Perhaps the gaping holes through the spine of his team should be more of an immediate area of focus. <p>The manner of that loss has raised qualifying questions, the only real clarity offered by the Premier League champions. Mikel Arteta's side brutally exposed a series of City shortcomings: defensively disorganised, missing a midfield and lacking leadership, to name but a few.</p><p>Under a week from the start of their campaign proper, City appear worryingly incomplete.</p><widget id="5"></widget><p>"We have it quite clear what we need to do, and for sure we are going to do something before the transfer window closes," Maresca reassured after the game, before it was confirmed later the same evening that <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13572836/rodri-transfer-news-man-city-accept-bid-from-barcelona-for-world-cup-winning-midfielder-and-former-ballon-dor-holder">Rodri would be departing for Barcelona</a>. Not sure that was exactly what he had in mind.</p><ul><li><strong>Got Sky? <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchPremarticles">Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone</a>\ud83d\udcf1</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? <a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">Latest Sky Sports deals</a> or <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports/football/premier-league?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">stream PL games with no contract</a>\ud83d\udcfa</strong></li></ul><p>City's trust in Maresca is such that defeat in the Community Shield will not cause a huge internal stir. There does, however, need to be a period of introspection. Does the Italian have the tools he needs to play the system he intends to? Sunday suggests not.</p> <widget id="4"></widget><p>Beyond being schooled by a slicker side in possession, all three of Arsenal's well-worked goals scored from open play, City's lack of imposition should be a major concern. Maresca's XI was packed with creators and scorers but none were effective. They played 200 more passes in the opposition half than Arsenal, yielding one big chance to Arsenal's four. That was missed by Erling Haaland.</p><p>Given Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson and Haaland only returned from their post-World Cup breaks a few days prior, it's a wonder they were involved at all. None of that trio were particularly productive, albeit their underperformance comes with caveats and will rank low on Mareca's list of misgivings.</p> <widget id="2"></widget><p>Much higher on his evolving catalogue of to-dos will be addressing how disconnected City's units are, all playing individually, much to Arsenal's aid. Mateo Kovacic's role as the central rotator did not work. Nor, for the most part, did O'Reilly's progression into midfield to create the 3-2 shape Maresca favours in build-up.</p><p>All O'Reilly succeeded in doing was leaving huge voids of space for Noni Madueke to run into. At one point Ben White was even playing like a winger. The talented 21-year-old, for all his many strengths - and he has great potential to thrive in a de facto central midfield role - was swamped by the class and nous of Arsenal's enforcers. He cannot yet do what Bernardo Silva or Rodri can do.</p> <widget id="8"></widget><p>When the Gunners did arrive with numbers and intent to threaten, City held such a high defensive line it almost bated the obvious opening. No player engaged. And so Martin Odegaard's mind was made up for him. He used the generosity of his time and space to measure a cross for Christos Tzolis to tee up Kai Havertz. Child's play.</p><p>Maresca drew criticism for a similar tactical failing while in charge at Chelsea. A high line with a passive press is an accident waiting to happen in the Premier League.</p><p>City obviously have work to do between now and the close of the transfer window on September 1. <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13573958/enzo-fernandez-transfer-news-man-city-remain-interested-in-chelsea-midfielder-despite-missing-deadline-to-make-bid">Enzo Fernandez remains a target</a> but comes with baggage. He's a player that often splits opinion - <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/chelsea-vs-real-sociedad/report/575209">booed by sections of his own fanbase</a> at the weekend - despite striking up a good working relationship with Maresca during their time together at Chelsea.</p> <widget id="6"></widget><ul><li><strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/TransfersSkySportsApp">Transfer Centre LIVE!</a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ManCityblogarticles">Man City news & transfers</a>\ud83d\udd35</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/manchester-city-scores-fixtures">Man City fixtures & scores</a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/FreePLHighlightsFirst">FREE Man City highlights</a>\u25b6\ufe0f</strong></li></ul><p>He is not a Rodri replacement. Albeit no one is.</p><p>The Argentine does offer two things City's midfield currently lacks, though: goals and guile. Fernandez is a fighter and while that trait sometimes lands him in hot water, it is also necessary to add presence in an area of the pitch that needs it most. City were so lightweight on Sunday, Arsenal had carte blanche control.</p><p>Tijjani Reijnders is another set to move on, further weakening midfield options and piling responsibility on relatively young shoulders. Anderson is only 23. Key transfer target Ayyoub Bouaddi just 18. Kovacic, at 32, is perhaps too far the other side of peak. Where is the balance?</p> <widget id="7"></widget><p>A percentage of these problems can of course be attributed to rustiness. It was only game one, and not a consequential game at that. Haaland will get sharper. Anderson will learn how to better anchor midfield with some help. And the miss...

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