മാഞ്ചസ്റ്റർ സിറ്റിയുടെ മധ്യനിരയിൽ വൻ അഴിച്ചുപണി; പുതിയ താരങ്ങളുമായി എൻസോ മറെസ്കയുടെ സംഘം
റോഡ്രി, ബെർണാഡോ സിൽവ എന്നിവർക്ക് പുറമെ നിക്കോ ഗോൺസാലസ്, ടിജാനി റെയ്ൻഡേഴ്സ് എന്നിവരും ഈ വേനൽക്കാലത്ത് മാഞ്ചസ്റ്റർ സിറ്റി വിട്ടതോടെ മധ്യനിരയിൽ കരുത്തുപകരേണ്ടത് ടീമിന് അത്യാവശ്യമായിരുന്നു. ഈ സാഹചര്യത്തിലാണ് എലിയറ്റ് ആൻഡേഴ്സൺ, അയ്യൂബ് ബൗദി, എൻസോ ഫെർണാണ്ടസ് എന്നിവരെ ടീമിലെത്തിച്ച് മാഞ്ചസ്റ്റർ സിറ്റി തങ്ങളുടെ മധ്യനിരയെ ശക്തിപ്പെടുത്തിയത്. എൻസോ മറെസ്കയുടെ കീഴിൽ ഈ സീസണിൽ ഈ മൂന്ന് താരങ്ങളും നിർണായക പങ്ക് വഹിക്കുമെന്ന് ഉറപ്പാണ്. യുവതാരങ്ങളെന്ന നിലയിൽ ക്ലബ്ബിന്റെ ഭാവിയിലും ഇവർ വലിയ സ്വാധീനം ചെലുത്തുമെന്നാണ് പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നത്. ഈ സീസണിൽ മാഞ്ചസ്റ്റർ സിറ്റിയുടെ ജയപരാജയങ്ങൾ പുതിയ മധ്യനിരയുടെ പ്രകടനത്തെ ആശ്രയിച്ചിരിക്കും.
With Rodri and Bernardo Silva, and to a lesser extent, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders all having left Manchester City this summer, it was vital that City bolstered their midfield during the summer transfer window. In the end, City did exactly that. They completed the signings of Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Enzo Fernandez to complete Manchester City’s midfield rebuild. All three players will have vital roles to play for Enzo Maresca’s side this season. They will also all be crucial to City’s future as Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson, and Enzo Fernandez all have their best football ahead of them. However, looking specifically at this season, you do sense that Manchester City’s chances will hinge on their new-look midfield.
Enzo Maresca knows how crucial City’s new midfield trio will be to their play this season.
With Rodri and Bernardo Silva gone, Manchester City have added the players they needed in midfield this summer. Elliot Anderson has made a strong start to life at City. The England international looks set to be crucial to City’s hopes this season. Ayyoub Bouaddi arrives at City as one of the most tantalizing midfield prospects in world football. The 18-year-old Moroccan international figures to be a key player for Enzo Maresca’s side despite his young age. In Enzo Fernandez, City have brought in a player who is a winner. Also, the Argentinian midfielder is determined to contend for, and win, major trophies as he enters the prime years of his career.
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Speaking yesterday, Enzo Maresca said that Manchester City had to change the makeup of their midfield. Losing Rodri and Bernardo Silva saw City have to spend big to bolster their engine room. Also, Maresca knows that Bouaddi, Anderson and Enzo Fernandez will be key players for his team. He explained: “For Elliot, Enzo and Ayyoub [coming in] it’s because we knew that we need to change something,” the City boss pointed out. They are quite young and full of energy.“
“How we use them, it depends a little bit on the gameplan we have. But there are no doubts that these three are going to be main players for us.“
റോഡ്രി, ബെർണാഡോ സിൽവ എന്നിവരുടെ അഭാവത്തിൽ മധ്യനിരയിൽ വലിയ മാറ്റങ്ങൾ അനിവാര്യമാണെന്ന് എൻസോ മറെസ്ക വ്യക്തമാക്കി. പുതിയ താരങ്ങളായ എലിയറ്റ് ആൻഡേഴ്സൺ, അയ്യൂബ് ബൗദി, എൻസോ ഫെർണാണ്ടസ് എന്നിവർ ടീമിന് ഊർജ്ജം പകരുമെന്ന് മറെസ്ക പറഞ്ഞു.
Former Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna believes that City have addressed a weak point in their squad makeup.
In an interview with The Italian Football Podcast, former Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna believes that City’s signings of Ayyoub Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez addresses a weakness in City’s squad set up. He believes that City’s attacking players weaknesses in tracking back can be covered by the new look midfield. Sagna explained: “Now you have new players in the middle of the park especially, and they will try to find stability. They have invested so much going forward and attacking that the balance was missing. They were caught on counter-attacks a lot. By having Elliot Anderson and now Enzo Fernández, I think they will find the stability that was missing.“
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“When you have players like Cherki, Haaland, Semenyo and Doku, you know what to expect. You give them full power in attack, but you know they’re going to maybe sometimes be lazy to defend, or come up short to defend.“
“That’s why they probably strengthened the middle of the park: to be able to keep the right balance. So it’s a smart move to buy these types of players—also players who can play football. I mean, Bouaddi is a baller, and Enzo Fernández also—you saw the impact he had with Chelsea and with Argentina.“
The City midfield will be crucial to Manchester City’s hopes this season and the sooner they bed in, the better.
Elliot Anderson has already shown how vital he will be to Manchester City’s midfield in the two Premier League fixtures City have played this season. Anderson’s ability to cover the pitch, win duels and his quality in possession looms as a vital component of City’s play. When you consider the prospect of either Ayoubb Bouaddi or Enzo Fernandez playing alongside Anderson, that is where the excitement about what Manchester City’s midfield may look like. Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi will play together at times and their games do seem suited to playing with each other.
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As exciting as the prospect of Manchester City’s new midfield is, it does need time to come together. Anderson, Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez will all need to adjust to their new club and Enzo Maresca’s demands. The quicker that the midfield trio adapt to their new surroundings, the better it will be for Manchester City. That process will take time, it always does. It is hoped that it can be accelerated playing in such a quality side that City promises to be.
Also, looking at Bacary Sagna’s assessment, if Manchester City’s new midfield can add more stability to Enzo Maresca’s side that would be ideal. Across City’s first three competitive matches of the season their midfield has been too open, or easy to play through on occasions. This is a product of a team learning a new system and how Premier League games play out. Hopefully, the additions of Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi, alongside Elliot Anderson, tighten up this area of Manchester City’s play. If it does, Enzo Maresca’s side will be a far more lethal proposition.
Final thoughts.
In Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernandez, Manchester City have signed three players who will future proof their midfield. Also, the trio are key to Manchester City’s prospects for the 2026-27 season. The quicker they all bed in the better. They will bring undoubted pedigree and quality to City’s engine room. Also, as Bacary Sagna pointed out, they can also vastly improve an element of this City side that does need to tighten up.