A fresh start for everyone
When Enzo Maresca walked into the building this summer, he brought with him something City's squad hadn't had in a while: a clean slate. Speaking before the final friendly of the Asia tour against Atletico Madrid, the new manager made it clear that reputations count for nothing right now.
"The only thing I have said since I start to the players is that for me it's a new reset. All of them start at same level," Maresca said. It's the kind of message that tends to focus minds.
Two friendlies in, with one to play, and the early signs are that some players have taken that message to heart more than others.
Second chances
Nico Gonzalez is the obvious example. The Spaniard spent the second half of last season sliding down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola, his opportunities drying up as the campaign wore on. Yet here he is, impressing in midfield and apparently set for a more prominent role next term. Funny what a clean slate does.
Savinho is another who found himself out of favour last season. The Brazilian looked destined for the exit door this summer, with plenty expecting him to be moved on. Instead, he's been one of the bright spots in the two friendlies played so far. Whether that's enough to change his fate remains to be seen, but it's a start.
Youth making a case
It's not just the senior players looking to revive their claims. Divin Mubama, Rico Lewis and Vitor Reis have all caught the eye throughout pre-season, quietly staking their own claims for minutes when the real business begins.
Maresca has been consistent on this point: "Pre-season will dictate a little bit the transfer window. This has been the same message for everyone – for me it is a reset."
In other words, what happens on the pitch between now and the end of the tour will help decide who stays and who goes. Everyone started level. How they finish will determine who's part of the plan.