Enzo Maresca needs to stop overcomplicating things to get Manchester City firing again

Enzo Maresca needs to stop overcomplicating things to get Manchester City firing again At the moment, the best way to describe Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City side is disjointed. Throughout this season, City have been far too open and their opponents have had far too much success in transitions against Maresca’s side. The culmination of this came in the opening 20 minutes of Manchester City’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest . Oliver Glasner’s side ruthlessly took a 2-0 lead after 18 minutes as they walked through City’s midfield to score twice on the break. For now, Enzo Maresca’s system isn’t getting the best out of his players. At the moment, it does seem like Maresca needs to stop overcomplicating matters to get the best out of his players. The Manchester City players at times looked lost in their roles against Nottingham Forest. At times, it was a jarring sight to see the Manchester City players waving their arms at each other and pointing fingers as they fell to their third consecutive defeat in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest. The frustration of the City players was impossible to miss. They weren’t at their best against Forest and Oliver Glasner’s side took full advantage of this. However, what was apparent was that on occasions the City players didn’t have options when in possession. Or players got in each other’s way at other times. You did have to wonder why this was occurring. Yes, the Manchester City players would have been frustrated by the start they made to the match against Nottingham Forest. Being 2-0 down after 18 minutes is far from ideal. But the fact was that Enzo Maresca’s side had time to turn the match around when Liam Delap beat Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 18th minute. Unfortunately, City’s system didn’t suit their strengths. Having Elliot Anderson play in midfield essentially on his own nullifies his strengths. Having Enzo Fernandez pushed higher up the pitch alongside Rayan Cherki is counter-productive and limits City’s build-up play. Also, having both full-backs invert into attacking roles when Manchester City had possession in the opening 45 minutes hindered City’s play. Against Forest, and on other occasions this season Enzo Maresca’s system does seem to be overcomplicated. There looks to be a simple solution to this issue. Enzo Maresca can keep his system but also simplify the player roles to have his team play in a manner that better suits team. It must be said that Nottingham Forest deserved credit for how they managed the game after going 2-0 up after 18 minutes. They played to the situation and picked up a 3-1 win. Manchester City did come to life in the second half. The introduction of Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly helped in this regard. Their introduction also pointed to another viable solution for Enzo Maresca. If Maresca simplifies his system, and his players roles, it should bring out the best in his team. Playing Enzo Fernandez alongside Elliot Anderson will solve the midfield issue. It will fortify City’s midfield. Also, if Ayyoub Bouaddi starts in midfield, he needs to be played in his ideal role. Bouaddi played as an advanced midfielder against Brighton . It didn’t work out. That isn’t his role or specialty. Elliot Anderson or Enzo Fernandez should have played that role in City’s 1-0 defeat. That tactical move by Maresca led to what we saw against RB Leipzig and Nottingham Forest from Manchester City. Elliot Anderson needs support in midfield. Not to be left on an island with Maresca employing elaborate double ten set ups. That is obvious and the shape and system City have been using needs to be modified to strengthen the midfield. That solution looks to be a simple one. Play the full-backs in roles that suit them and not in a manner that exposes them. Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly showed in the second half against Forest what they offer in possession for Enzo Maresca’s side. Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol don’t offer what those two do in an attacking sense. Therefore, Khusanov and Gvardiol shouldn’t be tasked with such a role. That is another easy tweak for Enzo Maresca to make with his system. Ask players to play to their strengths, not play in a system that places them in uncomfortable situations. Khusanov works best when he is the third centre-back in the system. Not when he’s tasked with playing as Matheus Nunes would. Josko Gvardiol can be a weapon in possession in the final third but in a different manner to Nico O’Reilly. Also, adjusting the full-backs roles to the players who start in the role should also help strengthen City’s defence. All told, the pieces are there for Enzo Maresca to build an extremely strong Manchester City side. At its core, Enzo Maresca’s system should get the best out of these players in time. Rather than overhauling his system, Maresca needs to simplify it. That should get the best out of his team and at the same time fix the obvious flaws in his current set up.