New era begins in Hong Kong
Enzo Maresca takes charge of Manchester City for the first time today, and he has wasted no time putting his stamp on the side. The Blues face Inter Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, their first preseason friendly of the summer, with a starting eleven that looks anything but experimental.
Maresca has only had just under two weeks with his squad, yet he has named a strong lineup for the occasion. Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal, with Rico Lewis at right-back and Stephen Mfuni on the left. Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol form the centre-back pairing, while Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders anchor the midfield.
Further forward, Phil Foden captains the side, with Savinho, Antoine Semenyo and young striker Divin Mubama given the nod up front. It is a bold selection, and one that suggests Maresca wants to hit the ground running.
Eyes on Lewis and Mfuni
Rico Lewis starts at right-back, and it will be interesting to see if he plays as an inverted right-back in today’s match. Stephen Mfuni looks set to start at left-back, and will be fascinating to see how he goes in the role. Both players have a point to prove in this new setup.
It is only a friendly, but the first team sheet of a new era always carries a bit of weight. Maresca has picked a side that says he means business from the off.