This week will be the early test that this Manchester City side needs

This week will be the early test that this Manchester City side needs Manchester City have made a good start to their 2026-27 Premier League campaign. Enzo Maresca’s side have won their opening three matches against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Coventry City . They have picked up nine points and there have been plenty of positive signs to take from all three games. Also, it is clear that this City side is still learning their new manager’s system, which is a process that will take time. It will not be a straightforward process due to the amount of new signings that are in this Manchester City squad. This week sees City take on FC Porto and Manchester United away from home and both matches loom as the tests that Enzo Maresca’s side needs. The games against FC Porto and Manchester United will test the new-look Manchester City. There have been plenty of positive signs to take from the three Premier League fixtures that Manchester City have played. City’s attack is showing signs of life and the possession play from Enzo Maresca’s side is beginning to grow. You can see glimpses of the side that Manchester City will become in time. However, there are elements of City’s play that do need to be tightened up. Individual errors have been an issue for Enzo Maresca’s side across the three games that Manchester City have played. Misplaced passes have created openings for City’s opponents, and this was evident against Coventry City. Antoine Semenyo gifted Taiwo Awoniyi a clear-cut chance early in Saturday’s match at the Etihad Stadium. Also, Abdukodir Khusanov’s back pass was less than ideal for Gianluigi Donnarumma. This decision almost led to Coventry City taking the lead in farcical circumstances. There has also been an issue with Josko Gvardiol’s positioning that does leave a gap on Manchester City’s left for teams to exploit. Abdukodir Khusanov hasn’t looked comfortable at right-back. However, all of these issues should iron themselves out in time. That is the expectation as this City side grows together. This week’s games against FC Porto and Manchester United should be the ideal tests for Enzo Maresca’s side. Both teams have the quality to expose the issues that have been on display from City’s play. In a sense, both teams are a step up in quality from what Manchester City have played this season. FC Porto at home will be no pushover. Derbies are always 50/50 affairs and Michael Carrick’s side will be eager to get one over on City on Sunday at Old Trafford. This week will see Enzo Maresca’s side tested and it may be what they need to go up a gear. Final thoughts. Manchester City have started this season well. Three wins from three in the Premier League is exactly the start that City would have wanted. There are obvious areas of City’s game that need to improve and they will do so the more that City play. However, there is no time for Enzo Maresca’s side to ease their way into the season. They play FC Porto and Manchester United this week and both games could well be the tests that City need to step up a gear after their promising start to the 2026-27 season. It will be fascinating to see how Manchester City navigate a tough week and these tests are the ones that Enzo Maresca’s side will have been waiting for.