Two tens, one shirt, and a right-wing emergency
Manchester City's opening Premier League fixture of the new season has a subplot that Enzo Maresca could hardly have scripted better himself. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, both natural number tens, both bonafide match-winners, look set to start together against Bournemouth tomorrow.
The reason is less about tactical romance and more about arithmetic. Jeremy Doku is injured, and Savinho is in London finalising a move to Tottenham. Maresca is suddenly short of right-wing options, which rather forces his hand.
So the assumption is straightforward enough: one of the pair occupies the right flank, the other takes the attacking midfield berth. Tomorrow should be one of those occasions where both get the nod.
“They can play together, in different positions. But they are quite similar. If you want to build an important team you need competition. It’s good that Phil and Rayan have competition, but they can play together in some games.”
Those were Maresca's words yesterday, and they cut to the heart of it. The pair are similar. They have played together before and thrived as a combination. But with a fully fit squad at his disposal, the manager would likely face a straight choice between them for the attacking midfield role.
That is the competition. And Maresca believes it is healthy — for the players, and for the club.
Fire and fuel
City have always needed consistent competition for places to keep standards where they are. This is no different. When the squad eventually takes its final shape, it will be that internal rivalry that drives the side forward. It has always been that way at the Etihad, and Maresca's era looks set to follow the same path.
For Foden and Cherki specifically, the dynamic should keep both on their toes. Neither can afford to coast. Both must perform to keep their spot. That is a major positive for a side that has two genuine match-winners pushing each other.
If they feed off it, they could carry this team a long way. If they simply fire together tomorrow, City begin the season with three points.
Either way, it is a decent problem for a manager to have.