Guehi's Midfield Shift Gives Maresca a Problem He'll Welcome
Marc Guehi's late header rescued Manchester City from a second successive competitive defeat under Enzo Maresca, but the more intriguing takeaway from Sunday's win over Bournemouth was where the centre-back was playing.
Deployed in midfield, the 26-year-old offered something City have lacked in the middle of the park: physical presence. Maresca, speaking on Thursday, did little to dampen the idea that Guehi could make that role his own.
"It's a solution! I don't know if it can be for the next game, but it's a solution," Maresca said.
The decision to use Guehi there was not, the manager insisted, a reflection of any frustration with the transfer market. It was about winning the game in front of them.
"It's not linked to if we buy players or we don't. It's just because we planned to win, the idea was also to have more physicality in the middle."
Bournemouth are a physical side, and Maresca pointed to Elliot Anderson, Guehi and Nico O'Reilly as the answer to that particular problem. Guehi, he said, was good.
The England international had already made his mark before the winner. He missed a header into an open goal from a corner in the second half, then made amends with another header that found the net via a deflection. It was that kind of afternoon — City wasted a series of glorious chances, with Erling Haaland heading wide early on after fine work from O'Reilly down the left.
Guehi's off-the-ball work rate has drawn plaudits, and he continues to pose a threat in the opposition box from set-pieces. Maresca sees him as more than a stopgap.
"The good thing is now he gives us solutions for the future."
Whether that future is in defence or midfield remains to be seen. Since arriving from Crystal Palace for £20 million in January, Guehi has been a regular in a backline that pushed Arsenal all the way in last season's title race. With Ruben Dias linked to Real Madrid — even if he has been named captain after Bernardo Silva's exit — Guehi's versatility could prove vital.
He has previous against City, too, having led Palace to FA Cup glory at Guardiola's expense. That history, plus Sunday's showing, should be enough to earn him a start at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening.
Maresca will decide the first XI after a training session on Friday. He has a welcome dilemma on his hands.