Enzo Maresca does not pay the bills at Manchester City but he is ecstatic that those who do spent £125m for him to be reunited with Enzo Fernández. The manager and the midfielder were together at Chelsea, forming a strong bond over a relatively short time, one the Italian knew could provide the final piece within his master plan. The Argentinian was equally eager to work under Maresca once more and made it abundantly clear to his previous employers where he saw his future.
Questions were immediately raised about the fee for the 25-year-old who had spent the summer winding up opponents on the way to losing the World Cup final against Spain. Some pondered his attitude and quality but Maresca was adamant he knew what he was doing and City agreed with a deadline-day move. Prior to kick-off at Old Trafford, life had been relatively simple for Fernández in wins against Coventry and Porto.
Though the victories were not smooth as City found themselves disjointed in the middle of the pitch and far too frequently overrun for Maresca’s liking. An occasion such as an away derby is too good of an opportunity to pass up for someone like Fernández who seems addicted to intensity. Considering the potency of Bruno Fernandes as a No 10 and Kobbie Mainoo’s desire to show the man who has his place in the England team, Elliot Anderson, and a key instigator in his country’s World Cup exit what he is made of, it was always going to be a difficult day for City’s new midfield.
This was not made any easier when Phil Foden made his mark on the game – and Fernandes’s midriff – midway through the first half. Having a player fewer amid the volatility of facing your fiercest rivals away from home is a test of character, to say the least. Fernández embraced adversity and was effectively asked to perform the jobs of two men once Rayan Cherki was pushed out to the right, vacating the No 10 role during the reshuffle.
Being used as a No 8 but also tasked with additional space in front to roam in when in possession to offer the support Erling Haaland was otherwise lacking. If anyone wondered about Fernández’s mental fortitude, the remainder of his time on the pitch was proof of what he offers at City. The responsibility of being the brake and accelerator in the middle of the park empowered the player who Maresca sees as the senior member of the trio of summer midfield arrivals.
He is the one Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi can look to for an example. Anderson covered the most ground, well over half a kilometre more than the midfielders in red. By the time Fernández departed in the 82nd minute, replaced by Nico O’Reilly, he had skipped over 10.25km of turf, working out the same per minute as Anderson, according to Opta.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
