The Champions League returns tomorrow night, but the lead-in to City's trip to Porto has been anything but quiet. A club-record passing display, a new academy project and another reminder of the unresolved 115 charges have all jostled for attention before the Blues open their European campaign at the Estádio do Dragão.
Anderson's landmark afternoon
Elliot Anderson has been at City for barely a handful of league games, yet the 23-year-old has already etched his name into the record books. His 146 completed passes against Coventry on Saturday surpassed the previous best of 144 set by Jordan Henderson — the most by an English midfielder since Opta began tracking the data in 2003/04.
Anderson's 178 touches in the 1-0 win underlined just how central he has become to the side's rhythm. Not bad for a player still finding his feet in blue.
AI enters the academy
Academy director Thomas Krucken has lifted the lid on a new AI initiative designed to help City's youngsters bridge the gap to the first team. The Future Player 2.0 trial uses position-specific data, allowing a winger like Ryan McAidoo to measure his game against the likes of Jérémy Doku or Antoine Semenyo.
The technology offers young players a clearer picture of what they need to improve — a data-driven roadmap to the senior squad.
The £440m question
Former City chairman David Bernstein has raised eyebrows over the club's spending power. With around £440m reportedly invested in a single transfer window, Bernstein has questioned how that squares with the Premier League's 115 charges still hanging over the club.
City continue to deny the allegations, and three-and-a-half years after the charges were announced, there is still no verdict following the conclusion of the independent commission hearing in December 2024. The wait goes on.
Pacho watch
Elsewhere, City have reportedly compiled a scouting report on PSG centre-back Willian Pacho, with scouts spotted watching the Ecuador international against Lille. There is no deal on the table, and PSG have just handed Pacho a contract running until 2031 — a clear statement of intent from the French side.
Maresca's different soundtrack
There is also a new atmosphere at the City Football Academy. Music is now being played through speakers during first-team training — something Pep Guardiola never did, according to the Manchester Evening News. Maresca's sessions now quite literally have a different soundtrack.
Whether that continues to bring the same results remains to be seen, but the change is notable.
Team news ahead of Porto
City open their Champions League campaign away to Porto at 8pm, with Maresca and one of his players due to speak to the media in Portugal at 8.10 tonight. Jérémy Doku is sidelined with a calf problem, while Nico O'Reilly will need assessing after hurting his back during the warm-up before Coventry.