Manchester City's recruitment radar has settled on Alex Baena, the Atletico Madrid midfielder who helped Spain lift the World Cup. Football Insider reports that the Blues are monitoring the 25-year-old, though a January approach is not on the cards.

Baena's profile fits the modern City midfield template. He is comfortable on either flank or through the middle, and his numbers this season make for pleasant reading: three goals in four league appearances. Those are the kind of contributions that tend to accelerate a club's interest.

The Spain international also chipped in with two goal contributions during the World Cup campaign, underlining his ability to produce on the biggest stage. For a side that values versatility and output from midfield, Baena ticks several boxes at once.

There is, however, the small matter of competition. Newcastle United and Aston Villa are both keeping tabs on the player, so City would not be operating in a quiet market. Atletico, for their part, will not be eager to part with a key figure, and any deal would likely require a premium fee.

That might be where the January window falls down. City are thought to be reluctant to rush a move, preferring to bide their time. Baena, meanwhile, may be tempted by the prospect of joining an elite club with a realistic shot at major silverware — a factor that could work in the Blues' favour further down the line.

For now, this looks like groundwork rather than a sprint to the finish. The technical attributes are there, the interest is real, but the timing is anything but urgent.

Ayyoub Bouaddi's wait for a first Manchester City start could end on Tuesday night. The 18-year-old Moroccan is among those Enzo Maresca has earmarked for minutes against FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão.

Bouaddi has so far had to settle for two brief substitute appearances since his arrival from Lille. Speaking after Saturday's 1-0 win over Coventry City, Maresca made clear his intentions for the trip to Portugal.

“The first game is on Tuesday. So the focus has to be on the Tuesday game, then after that we focus on the next one,” the City boss said.

He went further, naming Bouaddi, Iliman Ndiaye and Ryan McAidoo as players he hopes to involve. “I think with Ayoubb, with Ryan McAidoo, as you said, Iliman Ndiaye they probably haven’t played in the Champions League yet. But they need to start. So on Tuesday they’re going to start getting minutes in the Champions League,” Maresca added.

There is a logic to the rotation. City face upwards of 60 games this season, and Maresca has stressed the need to get minutes into the players the club have brought in. Tuesday offers a chance to do exactly that without taking too much of a gamble.

Bouaddi, for his part, is no stranger to this stage. He tasted Champions League football during his time at Lille, even if those experiences came in a different shirt.

At 18, he represents the kind of long-term investment City have increasingly favoured. The question is whether the Estádio do Dragão provides the right stage for his first start — or whether Maresca's hand is forced by the sheer size of the campaign ahead.

Either way, the message from the manager is clear enough. The days of Bouaddi watching from the bench are numbered.

Matheus Nunes has declared himself fully fit ahead of Manchester City's opening Champions League league phase fixture against FC Porto tomorrow night. The Portuguese international has been managing a minor ankle issue that disrupted the start of his season.

The knock came at the worst possible time, the day before the FA Community Shield meeting with Arsenal. A tackle left him sore for a while, ruling him out of that fixture and delaying his involvement in the early weeks of the campaign.

“I am good. I am 100% now.”

Nunes told the media today, adding: “My injury was my ankle the day before Arsenal. I had a tackle and it was sore for a while but now I am fine.”

His absence has been felt. Nunes has only made one appearance off the bench in City's first three Premier League games, a half-hour run-out in the 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth. Even in that short spell, he made a vital contribution to turning the game around.

In his place, Abdukodir Khusanov has slotted in on the right of the defence. The Uzbek has nominally played at right-back but has operated more as the right-sided centre-back in a back three, where his recovery pace is crucial to how City play. He hasn't been at his best so far this season, with his positioning and overall defensive awareness slightly off.

Nunes, by contrast, has firmly established himself as City's first-choice right-back. Enzo Maresca's system differs from Pep Guardiola's, but the importance of Nunes hasn't changed. His return to full fitness is a boost for the side, and he appears to be in contention to start against Porto.

Whether Maresca opts to throw him straight back in for the European opener or eases him in from the bench remains to be seen. Either way, having the Portuguese available again gives City a welcome option on the right side of defence.

Manchester City have made their position on Alex Baena plain: admiration, yes. A January bid, almost certainly not.

Sources have told Football Insider that while the Blues continue to track the Atletico Madrid forward, they are not planning a mid-season move. The club’s summer business has left them feeling well covered in the final third, and only a dramatic shift in circumstances would change that outlook before the window shuts.

Baena’s stock has rarely been higher. A key part of Spain’s World Cup triumph in North America, he started seven games and contributed two goals on the way to lifting the trophy. That success capped a remarkable year in which he also became the first player ever to hold the World Cup, European Championship and Olympic titles simultaneously.

His form has carried into the new La Liga season, with three goals and an assist in Atleti’s opening four league matches. Over the past few campaigns he has established himself as one of the division’s standout wide men, earning a spot in the 2024-25 Team of the Season.

At 25, Baena is versatile enough to operate across the front line, though his natural home is on the left. That is precisely the area City looked to strengthen late in the summer, eventually turning to Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye in a £65m deal. Allan Elias also arrived from Palmeiras as part of Enzo Maresca’s attacking refresh.

The manager had identified another target in that position too. Cody Gakpo was a priority towards the end of the window, viewed as the ideal addition to Maresca’s forward options. Liverpool, however, had no interest in selling, with Andoni Iraola considering the Dutchman a key part of his plans. Gakpo was open to the move, sources say, but is content to remain at Anfield, where he is expected to feature regularly as an alternative to Alexander Isak through the middle.

Baena, for now, remains on City’s shortlist rather than their shopping list. Newcastle and Aston Villa have both been linked with the winger, so the watching brief will be a shared one. The Blues, it seems, are happy to wait.

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.

Seven days into September and the Premier League's managerial rumour mill is already churning. The first sacking of the campaign might be closer than anyone wants to admit.

It is, of course, far too early for clubs to be seriously weighing up a change at the top. Yet the early-season pressure is already building on a handful of coaches who have stumbled out of the blocks in the new campaign. With so much at stake at both ends of the table, patience is in short supply.

Boards are more trigger-happy than ever when wielding the axe, and we may only be weeks away from the first sacking.

That is the view of David Tully, a football reporter for the last fifteen years who started out as an intern at Snack Media before going freelance. He took up his current role as content writer for the Football News Network at the start of 2023.

In his latest piece, Tully runs through the five Premier League managers currently considered most likely to lose their jobs. The list makes for grim reading for those involved, even this early in the piece.

One or two poor results can quickly turn a season toxic. With the financial gap between the top and bottom of the division wider than ever, paying off a manager is often seen as the cheapest available fix. It rarely is, but the temptation remains.

For City supporters, the managerial merry-go-round tends to be a source of quiet amusement rather than concern. The Blues have had the same man in the dugout for a while now, and there is little sign of that changing. Elsewhere, though, the vultures are already circling.

Which names feature in the top five? The full list is laid out in Tully's piece, with each coach's position assessed. Some will feel hard done by. Others may have seen this coming since pre-season.

Either way, the clock is ticking. The first casualty of the season could arrive before the leaves start turning.

City cross to Porto on Tuesday night with their Champions League group stage getting under way at the Estádio do Dragão, and Enzo Maresca will want a clearer picture of his options before kick-off at 8pm UK time.

The squad flew out on the back of Saturday's 1-0 win over Coventry City, but the fallout from that afternoon at the Etihad has left the manager with at least one fresh headache.

Doku still watching from the sidelines

Jérémy Doku remains City's only confirmed injury absentee. The Belgian winger has been out since picking up a calf problem in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, and he has now missed all three Premier League games.

Maresca initially suggested the injury would keep Doku out for around two to three weeks. Speaking before the Coventry game, he confirmed the winger was still unavailable, and there is as yet no confirmed date for his return.

O'Reilly the late worry

Nico O'Reilly was named in the starting XI against Coventry but never made it onto the pitch. A back problem suffered during the warm-up forced him out, with Enzo Fernández drafted in as his late replacement.

Maresca was quick to play the issue down afterwards.

"In warm up O'Reilly felt something in his back, not serious."

Even so, there has been no confirmation that the youngster will be available against Porto. That one is very much to be assessed.

Ndiaye and Nunes: no alarms

Iliman Ndiaye's City debut ended with a bit of a scare when he needed treatment before being replaced by Ryan McAidoo after 87 minutes. The summer signing himself was quick to ease any concerns.

"No, no [nothing serious]. A little bit of cramp."

There is currently nothing to suggest he will miss the trip to Portugal. Matheus Nunes, meanwhile, is back in the squad after his recent fitness problem, having been named among the substitutes on Saturday.

So the picture going into Tuesday is reasonably clear, apart from one nagging doubt. Maresca's pre-match press conference in Portugal on Monday evening should provide the final fitness update before the game.

This tracker will be updated throughout the season as City's injury and fitness picture changes.

Manchester City take their flawless Premier League record into the Champions League on Tuesday night, facing a Porto side yet to concede more than once in a game this season. The Blues have maximum points from their opening three league games, though the perfection has masked a few wobbles along the way.

Enzo Maresca's side conceded against both Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, and were fortunate to keep a clean sheet against Coventry. Nine points from nine, but the defensive fragilities have been there for anyone willing to look.

Porto's fortress form

Porto come into this one unbeaten at home in their title-winning domestic campaign last season and have won all five of their opening league games this term, scoring 11 goals and conceding once. A first taste of Champions League football since 2023/24, they will not lack confidence in front of their own supporters.

They will, however, be without Jan Bednarek, the former Southampton defender suspended after a red card in his last European outing, a Europa League quarter-final defeat to Nottingham Forest. Nehuen Perez is expected to step in.

Danish midfielder Victor Froholdt is missing after being knocked unconscious by a stray elbow in the league meeting with Moreirense. He is on the mend, but this comes too soon. Vasco Sousa, Gabriel Mec, Oskar Pietuszewski, Zaidu Sanusi and Samu Aghehowa are also absent.

City's absentees and new faces

Jeremy Doku remains sidelined, while Nico O'Reilly is a doubt after withdrawing late before the Coventry game with a back problem. The enforced changes did allow record signing Enzo Fernandez to make his debut, and Iliman Ndiaye got his first minutes following his deadline-day move from Everton.

Ayyoub Bouaddi, another summer arrival, came on late against Coventry and could push for a start here.

Betting and history

City are 8/11 favourites to open the eight-game league phase with a win, with Porto 10/3 and the draw 3/1. In the outright market, the Blues are 9/1 sixth favourites, behind PSG at 5/1, Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern at 6/1, and Real Madrid at 13/2.

There is history to lean on: City have faced Porto four times in European competition, winning three and drawing the other. Haaland to score anytime in a City win pays 17/10, while the safer-looking City win and both teams to score is 23/10, rising to 7/2 if you throw a Haaland goal into a Bet Builder.

For those tempted by a Porto goal, Gabri Veiga has netted three in five league games and is a value bet at 5/1 to score anytime.

Kick-off is at 8pm BST on Tuesday, September 8 at the Estadio Do Dragao, shown live on Amazon Prime with coverage from 7pm. TalkSPORT will have full match commentary.

Three Premier League games into his Manchester City career, Elliot Anderson has already played more minutes than some summer signings manage in half a season. The £116m man from Nottingham Forest has started all three of City's opening fixtures and completed 90 minutes in two of them.

Not bad for a player who joined barely a week before the season kicked off.

Anderson's display in Saturday's narrow win over Coventry at the Etihad was his most convincing yet in sky blue. He imposed himself on the game, won the ball back for his side and helped keep a persistent Coventry outfit at arm's length. It was the kind of performance that justifies a club-record fee — even if that particular crown only lasted a very short period before City's next big-money arrival.

What the managers saw

Enzo Maresca has been impressed since day one. Speaking after the Coventry game, the City boss pointed out that Anderson was not just good on Saturday, but had also caught the eye against Palace and Bournemouth — a considerable feat given he had only been with the squad for a week before the season began.

"The best thing about Elliot is the day-by-day: he's asking how he can learn, we sit with him, one-on-one video, we're doing many things."

Maresca's enthusiasm is telling. The Italian sees a player hungry to improve, and he values that in a squad where competition for places is fierce.

"He wants to be better! If you want to be there, you need options. Arsenal have options, we have options, more teams have options."

Coventry boss Frank Lampard, watching from the opposite dugout, came away equally impressed. It was the first time he had seen Anderson up close, and the former Chelsea midfielder liked what he saw.

"A really good player. I admire him from afar. Very talented, very smart. I think he's going to be a very good midfielder for Manchester City."

From Old Trafford's radar to the Etihad

Anderson's move to City came after a summer in which Manchester United also explored a deal for the midfielder and even discussed making him captain. In the end, the fee proved beyond their reach. City paid the £116m and got their man.

While he is expected to operate primarily as a number eight, Saturday's performance showed Anderson is equally comfortable dropping deep when required, slotting into a box-to-box role without fuss. That versatility will serve him well as Maresca rotates his options across a long campaign.

Three games in, the early signs are encouraging. City's record outlay looks increasingly like money well spent.

There was no debut goal, no moment of magic, but Iliman Ndiaye's first appearance in a City shirt on Saturday offered a glimpse of what might be to come. The Senegalese international, signed from Everton on deadline day, was handed a start on the left wing by Enzo Maresca for the 1-0 win over Coventry City at the Etihad.

His teammates clearly wanted him involved early, making a concerted effort to get him on the ball from the off. Yet for all that goodwill, Ndiaye's influence on the game was limited. He kept things simple in possession, helping City recycle the ball without ever really threatening from the left. There were moments when he drifted into dangerous areas, but no real chances created.

The one standout moment came in the second half, when he collected the ball deep in his own half and surged forward to play City out of trouble. It was a reminder of the athleticism and drive that persuaded the club to move for him.

Out of possession, the effort was there. Ndiaye tracked back diligently and showed a willingness to do the dirty work, something that will have pleased his new manager.

Maresca's honest assessment

Maresca was satisfied with the debut overall, but he was not about to sugar-coat the performance. The head coach pointed out that Ndiaye, at times, found himself in the wrong positions when City had the ball, and was quick to contextualise why.

“Ili just had two sessions. He needs to understand how to move. Most of the time he was moving the wrong way, wrong position.”

The detail of Maresca's critique was telling. When Marc Guehi had the ball, Ndiaye kept dropping deep when City did not need him to. The space he was occupying was meant for Josko Gvardiol. Maresca wants his new winger higher up the pitch, in the last third, where he can do damage.

The same issue was apparent on the other flank, where Antoine Semenyo was dropping when Abdukodir Khusanov was in possession. That space, Maresca explained, belongs to Enzo Fernandez.

It is a lot of information to absorb after just two training sessions, and Maresca acknowledged as much.

“But it’s normal. With time they’re going to learn the way we want them to play.”

For a player who spent last season at Everton, the positional demands of this City side are a different language entirely. Ndiaye will learn it, but Saturday was always going to be a first step rather than a statement. The raw materials are there. The rest, as Maresca says, will come.

Manchester City's late enquiry for Adam Wharton may have been waved away by Crystal Palace this summer, but the midfielder's path to a big move is already being mapped out.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, speaking to Football Insider, has revealed that Wharton has an "informal agreement" with the Eagles that will allow him to leave next summer. It is a scenario that feels familiar to anyone who has watched Palace develop and sell their star assets over the past few seasons.

Wharton, 22, was the subject of a rejected late enquiry from City before the window shut. Palace, who lifted the FA Cup and the Conference League with Wharton as a key figure, had no intention of letting him go. He is under contract until 2029, which puts them in a commanding position.

But Brown suggested that the midfielder's situation mirrors those of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Marc Guehi — players who bided their time, developed at Selhurst Park, and eventually got their move. Wharton, he says, is happy to follow that same path.

"He's been realistic, he knows there is interest in him, but he's under contract at Crystal Palace and he's a crucial player for a side who have won trophies and are playing in Europe," Brown told Football Insider.

Unlike some of his teammates, notably Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wharton has not thrown his toys out of the pram to force a transfer. Brown went as far as to say the England international has "put his teammates to shame" with his loyalty.

That loyalty, it seems, will be repaid. Palace recognise that Wharton has the potential to become one of the world's best — the same belief they held about Guehi and Olise — and they will not stand in his way when the right offer arrives.

City, along with Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid, are tracking the midfielder. A move next summer would still require a significant fee, but the difference is that Palace would be willing to entertain offers. As Brown put it, the situation will not be the same as this summer, when they wouldn't even pick up the phone.

For City, the message is clear: Wharton is a player worth waiting for. The question is whether they are prepared to do so, or whether another club will move first.

There was a plan for yesterday's visit of Coventry City, and it did not involve the club's record signing. Nico O'Reilly was supposed to start in midfield at the Etihad, only for a minor back problem in the warm-up to scupper that idea. The England international was withdrawn, and Enzo Fernandez found himself thrust into his first start rather earlier than anyone anticipated.

It was hardly an ideal preparation. Fernandez had barely trained with his new teammates and had seen little football at Chelsea this season before the move. Yet by the time he made way in the 76th minute, replaced by Ayyoub Bouaddi, he had offered a compelling answer to the question of how he fits into Enzo Maresca's midfield.

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Stationed on the right of the engine room, Fernandez looked comfortable from the off. His composure on the ball was the standout feature, with SofaScore crediting him with 71 successful passes from 78 attempts. He was not merely keeping things tidy, though. Twice in the first half he saw shots blocked, and had Coventry's defending been less desperate he might have had a goal, with several inviting crosses finding their way towards him.

The most significant contribution arrived early. It was Fernandez who slipped Antoine Semenyo in down the right, and the winger's delivery set up Erling Haaland's header in the 26th minute. The goal proved decisive in a 1-0 win.

Around him, the midfield shape offered plenty of encouragement. Elliot Anderson operated nominally as the number six. Rayan Cherki took the number ten berth and, as is his habit, drifted all over the pitch. From left-back, Josko Gvardiol pushed into midfield to offer a threat not dissimilar to Fernandez's own.

One performance does not make a midfield revolution, and Fernandez will need time to build sharpness after such a limited build-up. But for a player signed amid questions over his fitness and readiness, this was a promising first impression. The sight of him pulling strings on the right of midfield, linking with Semenyo and feeding Haaland, suggests City's record outlay may yet look very sensible indeed.

It was supposed to be about the new faces. Enzo Fernández and Iliman Ndiaye were handed debuts at the Etihad on Saturday, two Deadline Day arrivals finally getting their first taste of Premier League football in a City shirt. The build-up had been dominated by the club's summer spending and the overhaul of Enzo Maresca's squad.

Then Erling Haaland went and did what Erling Haaland does. His 26th-minute header from Antoine Semenyo's cross settled a tight contest against Coventry, but the goal itself was only part of the story. The 26-year-old was quietly adding yet another piece of personal history.

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That strike was his 300th goal in all competitions in his top-flight club career, a figure reached in a remarkably efficient 368 appearances. It was also his 20th headed Premier League goal since arriving in the summer of 2022 — more than anyone else in the division over that period. The Norwegian's aerial prowess has become such a fixture of his game that even a milestone like this one can slip under the radar.

Semenyo, released by Fernández in the build-up, did the running; Haaland did the finishing. The goal proved decisive as City edged a 1-0 win to maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season.

Three league goals already this season, and once again he provided the difference when City needed him. The debutants may have been the headline act beforehand, but it was the established main attraction who ensured the afternoon ended with another victory. Some things never change.

When the transfer window slammed shut, Cody Gakpo was still a Liverpool player. The Reds had turned down an £80million bid from Manchester City on deadline day, and despite the Dutchman's openness to a move, he remains at Anfield.

Sources suggest Gakpo was keen on the idea of joining City, with Tottenham also holding talks as long-term admirers. But the 27-year-old is not one to sulk. He is reportedly happy to stay on Merseyside and is ready to get back to work under new boss Andoni Iraola.

Gakpo is not expected to cause any issues after he missed out on a move.

Instead, he is focused on continuing his strong start to the campaign, having already registered a goal and an assist in three appearances. Iraola sees him as a key figure, especially given his ability to play across the front line. Gakpo has shown he can operate on either wing or through the middle, a versatility that will prove vital across all competitions.

There was some interest in a move away, but Gakpo is not unhappy at Anfield. Under contract until 2030, there are no immediate concerns about his state of mind. Former Everton chief Keith Wyness, however, has suggested Gakpo may keep one eye on the January window.

City, for their part, did not leave themselves short. Both they and Tottenham made attacking signings late in the window, even if they missed out on their primary target. Spurs, in particular, are believed to have retained a strong interest and are tipped to return with a fresh approach in 2027.

For now, though, Gakpo remains a Liverpool player, and Iraola will be glad to have him.

Manchester City's pristine Premier League record remains intact, but Saturday's 1-0 win over Coventry was not the kind of performance that will feature in any highlight reels. That, according to Enzo Maresca, was precisely the point.

Erling Haaland's first-half strike separated the sides at the Etihad, yet the closing stages were anything but serene. Coventry pushed for an equaliser, forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into action as City clung to their slender advantage.

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Maresca made no attempt to dress up the display. "Not all the wins are going to be nice," he admitted. "We need this kind of win in every way."

"To be honest, I was really pleased with the win," Maresca said. "The main reason why is nine times in this kind of game, you finish conceding."

The Italian's satisfaction stemmed from the resilience shown when the game turned scrappy. City had leads before and let them slip; here, they defended throw-ins and set pieces with a togetherness that pleased their manager. "The way we suffer together at the end was a good one," he reflected.

There was a hint of self-inflicted difficulty. Maresca felt his side should have been out of sight before the interval. "First half was 1-0 but we could have scored one or two more," he said. "We kept them alive. With 2-0 it's a different game."

Fernández thrust into unexpected debut

The team sheet had carried a familiar look, with new signing Fernández named among the substitutes following his Deadline Day switch from Chelsea. That plan unravelled when Nico O'Reilly reported a problem in the warm-up.

The £125million midfielder was handed an unexpected full debut, three days after arriving. Maresca explained the change of heart: "The reason Enzo wasn't supposed to start was he arrived two days ago. He was going to get minutes, but in the end it was from the start."

Fernández responded with an assured showing, playing a part in the move that produced Haaland's winner. "I think he was quite good," Maresca said. "It's easy when you already spend time together because they know exactly what you want. He's going to help us win games."

Iliman Ndiaye, the Deadline Day arrival from Everton, was handed his first taste of Maresca's system from the outset. The Senegal international later spoke of his enjoyment at making his City bow and his relief at starting with a victory.

O'Reilly concern and Anderson's rising stock

The late withdrawal of O'Reilly was an unwelcome complication, though Maresca moved quickly to ease any alarm. "Nico felt something in his back," he said. "It doesn't look serious but he wasn't able to play."

Elliot Anderson continues to make a compelling case for regular involvement. Another composed midfield display drew warm words from his manager, who revealed the 22-year-old's appetite for improvement extends beyond matchdays.

"Really impressed," Maresca said. "Not just today, he was good against Palace and he was also very good against Bournemouth. The best thing about Elliot is the day by day, he's asking how he can learn and he wants to be better. On the ball, off the ball, different kinds of things."

Three games, three wins. Not all of them will be pretty, but there is something to be said for grinding one out when the football is less than flowing. Maresca, for one, seemed to enjoy it far more than the comfortable ones.

Manchester City's summer pursuit of a Rodri replacement did not go to plan. Not even close. According to Bild's Christian Falk, the Blues had Aleksandar Pavlovic at the top of their list, were willing to pay nine figures for him, and had opened talks as early as March. City told Bayern they could stump up €100m (£85.8m).

Pavlovic, all of 22, asked for time. He took it. And then he said no.

The German international opted to stay at Bayern, a decision that should not shock anyone who knows his background. He joined the club at seven and has come through the ranks at the Allianz Arena. Loyalty, it turns out, still counts for something.

There was no concrete offer on Bayern's table, Falk says, but the Bundesliga side were fully aware of City's interest. Reports of that interest first emerged at the end of last year, with Manchester United and Chelsea also mentioned as potential suitors.

So City moved on. Rodri had already left for Barcelona, leaving a hole in midfield that needed filling. After protracted negotiations, they landed Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille — another young player, and one who ended up costing around €100m.

Funny how these things work out. City wanted their number one target, were prepared to pay top dollar, and still ended up spending the same money on someone else. Bouaddi may not have been first choice, but he arrives with a similar price tag and, presumably, similar expectations.

Whether he can fill Rodri's boots is another matter entirely. But at least the cheque cleared.

On a day when Manchester City were far from their fluent best, the identity of their most influential performer came as something of a surprise.

Erling Haaland's first-half header ultimately separated the sides at the Etihad, but it was Elliot Anderson who truly ran the show. The England international was the metronome around which everything else revolved, a constant outlet as City built patiently from the back.

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His numbers against Coventry were remarkable by any standard. One hundred and seventy-six touches, 143 of 155 passes completed, 21 entries into the final third. He won seven duels, recovered possession six times, drew three fouls and made two interceptions. Both of his take-ons came off, and he still found time to create a chance.

It was the kind of all-encompassing display that tends to get described as a midfield masterclass, and for once the cliché holds up.

Anderson, operating alongside Rayan Cherki and Enzo Fernandez, kept possession ticking over throughout the opening period. But this was no mere sideways passing exercise. The 24-year-old consistently pushed City forward, carrying the ball into dangerous areas and ensuring the visitors were pinned back.

What made the performance particularly notable was the position he is now occupying. Anderson has started as the number six in City's last two matches, a role that demands discipline as much as creativity. Against Coventry he offered both, screening the defence while also providing the creative thrust that City needed.

He demonstrated exactly that capability in the previous outing, when City dismantled Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park.

Frank Lampard's Coventry side had their moments and can count themselves unfortunate not to have scored. Had they been more clinical, the afternoon might have taken a very different shape. As it was, Maresca's side did what they needed to do, grinding out a third consecutive win to open the Premier League season.

The result was not pretty. The performance, in large part thanks to Anderson, was more than passable.

Iliman Ndiaye's first outing in a City shirt offered a glimpse of the threat he brings, even if the scoreline stayed modest. A 1-0 win over Coventry at the Etihad on Saturday was settled by Erling Haaland's first-half strike, with both goalkeepers kept busy, but the afternoon belonged largely to the new arrival.

The Senegal international, signed from Everton on deadline day for £65m, played 87 minutes on his debut. He created a chance, had a shot, and perhaps most tellingly, was willing to run at his man. Seven dribbles attempted, two completed, four crosses, two fouls won — the numbers tell of a winger who wants the ball and isn't shy about taking responsibility.

[ratings:90961278-6704-46b0-b7c7-c838a361d937]

What might surprise those who watched him at Goodison Park is the defensive side. Ndiaye won two tackles, made a clearance and a recovery, and — rather against the stereotype of a flair player — came out on top in seven duels. It was a complete enough display that Rob Edwards, the former Wolves manager, was moved to praise him on Match of the Day.

"Ndiaye looks really dangerous, especially in one-on-one situations and this game really suits him. He is playing as well as anyone at the moment," Edwards said.

Ndiaye's route to City was not straightforward. A proposed move to Tottenham collapsed, and Everton ultimately accepted a fee well below the £80m that some decision-makers were tipped to hold out for, with three years still left on his contract. Financial demands proved decisive, with his exit following the cancellation of a proposed £40m move to Nottingham Forest for Harrison Armstrong. Football's transfer market rarely makes sense; occasionally that works in your favour.

He was not the only new face. Enzo Fernandez also made his debut following his £125m move from Chelsea, while Ayyoub Bouaddi was handed a home debut from the bench. City have now won their opening three Premier League games as they look to close the gap on Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca, hardly one for hyperbole, was direct when asked about Ndiaye's arrival.

"He's so good, he's so good," Maresca said. "In the last two days, you can see already how good he is in terms of 1v1, in terms of in the last third, inside the box. I'm very happy to have him with us."

Ndiaye can operate on either flank, and with Jeremy Doku still to return, he offers Maresca a dangerous option from the bench or from the start. On this evidence, City may have found a bargain — even at £65m.

When Frank Lampard walks out at the Etihad on Saturday, he will do so as one of a rare breed. Few have taken in a Premier League fixture at this stadium as both a player and a manager. His return, though, comes with Coventry City still hunting for their first top-flight point following a 25-year absence from the division.

The Blues, by contrast, are purring. Six points from six after a late win over Bournemouth and that commanding 4-1 dismantling of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday night. A perfect start, in other words, and one Maresca will want to preserve against a side that has found life back in the big time chastening so far.

City rounded off a frantic transfer window by completing deals for Allan, Iliman Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez, adding firepower to a squad already reshaped by the earlier arrivals of Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi. With Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland looking to build on that excellent showing against the Eagles, there could be as many as three debuts for the home side.

Praise from a Familiar Face

Lampard, who spent a season in City colours back in 2014/15 under Manuel Pellegrini — making 38 appearances across all competitions — had plenty of warm words for the man in the opposite dugout. He has followed Maresca's path closely, particularly since the Italian took the Chelsea job.

"He's had a very, very good career," Lampard said. "I've followed his career path and obviously when he goes to Chelsea I follow it slightly more closely."

The Coventry boss acknowledged the scale of the task Maresca inherited. Following Pep Guardiola is not a job many would envy.

"Nothing but good things to say in terms of him as a coach, he's had a very good career and goes into what is a tough job, to follow one of the greatest managers we've ever seen in Pep Guardiola. That's not easy."

And yet Lampard sees no reason for concern. With the tools at his disposal, he backed Maresca to thrive.

"Absolutely I see that side of it, but also very good foundations for him to continue his good work with the team, the quality he's got there," he added.

Those foundations were tested in August. The win over Bournemouth was fraught with tension, carrying the added weight of being Maresca's first game at the Etihad. The nerves have since settled. Saturday offers the chance to make it three from three and keep the early momentum rolling.

The Senegal international comes into the side for Phil Foden, the only alteration from the lineup that beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend. Foden drops to a bench that also features Matheus Nunes, back in contention after missing that trip to south London.

Lampard's return to the top flight

Coventry arrive for their first Premier League meeting with City in some years, having come up from the Championship last season. Frank Lampard's side have lost both of their opening fixtures, while Maresca's men have won both of theirs. The form guide points one way; the occasion may have other ideas.

This is the third league game of the season for both clubs, and the contrast in early momentum could hardly be starker.

City's only absentee is Jeremy Doku, still working his way back from the calf injury picked up in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. Otherwise, Maresca has a full hand to choose from.

Enzo Fernandez is among the substitutes, as is Nunes. New arrival Allan, though, has not been included in the matchday squad at all.

Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal behind a back four of Abdukodir, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol. Elliot Anderson and Nico O'Reilly anchor midfield, with Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo supporting Erling Haaland up front.

The bench reads Rulli, Kovačić, Fernández, Aït-Nouri, Nunes, Bouaddi, Foden, McAidoo and Lewis.

Kick-off at the Etihad is imminent.

The departure of Pep Guardiola has left a void that no amount of silver polish can fill. But as Ruben Dias sees it, the transition under Enzo Maresca is less about revolution and more about refinement.

Speaking about the early days of the new regime, the Portuguese defender offered a measured take on what has altered and what remains untouched. “Obviously, lots of things have changed but, in the end, not changed that much.”

That might sound like a contradiction, but Dias is quick to explain. The core identity — the relentless pursuit of possession, the suffocating control — persists. “Overall, it’s very much a game we were used to playing,” he said, pointing out that the real differences lie in the details, in the specific moments of a match where Maresca’s fingerprints are visible.

New energy, same principles

What has shifted, according to Dias, is the atmosphere. He spoke of the “new energy” Maresca has introduced, along with the manager’s specific ideas both with and without the ball. It is a subtle but significant change — the framework stays familiar, but the interpretation is fresh.

Having plenty of possession remains one of City’s “main characteristics”, Dias insisted. That much has not changed, nor is it likely to. What Maresca has added, however, is a layer of tactical nuance that the players are already embracing.

“The players are already buying into the idea,” Dias said.

Early evidence supports that claim. City have taken six points from their opening two Premier League games, a perfect start that suggests the transition, while not seamless, is at least moving in the right direction.

For a club accustomed to Guardiola’s meticulous methods, the prospect of a new voice could have been jarring. Instead, Dias’s words paint a picture of continuity wrapped in novelty — the same song, played with a slightly different rhythm.

There is a particular kind of player who shapes a dressing room without ever being handed the armband. At Manchester City this season, that player is Phil Foden.

When Enzo Maresca confirmed the club's captaincy group for the 2026-27 campaign — Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Marc Guehi — Foden's name was absent. The omission was notable, not least because Foden had made his ambition clear at the start of City's preseason tour of Asia, openly stating his desire to be considered for a leadership role.

Maresca, however, does not see it as a snub. Speaking yesterday, the City boss made plain that he regards the Stockport lad as a captain in all but title.

"I was thinking about Phil, because he is one of the guys from the house. He's not in that group, but for me he is also one of the captains; one of the players that belongs to that group."

There is a certain logic to the manager's framing. Foden came through the academy at a time when the pathway from youth to first team was more aspiration than expectation. That journey grants him a standing that no transfer fee can buy. Maresca's point was that Foden's history at the club means he will help set the standards, regardless of any official designation.

On the pitch, Foden has been doing his talking in the only currency that matters. In Friday's 4-1 win at Crystal Palace, he registered two assists, lively down the right and central to a result that carried real weight. What pleased Maresca most, reportedly, was the way Foden shrugged off two gilt-edged misses to keep influencing the game. There is a maturity in that — the refusal to let a squandered chance poison the next ten minutes.

At 26, Foden sits in the prime of his career, and among the more experienced heads in a squad that has turned over considerably in recent windows. He may not be in the formal leadership group, but the manager's words suggest his voice carries just as far without the armband. Sometimes the title matters less than the belonging.

Manchester City's summer midfield rebuild very nearly looked very different. Before Ayyoub Bouaddi walked through the door, the club had spent months chasing Bayern Munich's Aleksandar Pavlović — a chase that ultimately ran into a dead end.

City's interest in the 22-year-old was not a fleeting thing. First contact came as early as March, and the club made clear they were willing to go big: around €100 million (£85.8 million) was the figure floating about. For a player who came through Bayern's academy and now wears the Germany shirt, that kind of money tends to get a conversation started.

It did. Bayern, well aware of City's interest, watched on. Pavlović, for his part, did not say no outright. He told City he needed time to think. And think he did — before deciding to stay put in Bavaria.

No formal offer was ever lodged with Bayern. In the end, it never needed to be.

Had Pavlović said yes, he would be a City player this season.

Instead, City turned to the second name on their list. In Ayyoub Bouaddi they have landed an 18-year-old from Lille — a younger, longer-term prospect, and one of three new faces in midfield this summer alongside Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez.

Whether Bouaddi grows into the player Pavlović already is remains to be seen. But the club's patience in waiting out their first choice, then pivoting cleanly to the alternative, says something about how they go about their business. The pursuit of Pavlović may have fallen short. The plan, in the end, did not.

Vitor Reis will be given the opportunity to stake a claim in Enzo Maresca's first-team plans this season, according to sources close to the club. The Brazilian centre-back has impressed the City boss during his opening months at the Etihad, with the door now firmly open for him to fight for a place at the back.

It has been a winding road for Reis since his £29.6 million arrival from Palmeiras in January 2025. He joined the Brazilian club as a ten-year-old, lifted trophies at every Academy stage, and made his debut in June 2024 before quickly becoming a starter under Abel Ferreira. But his first six months in Manchester were quiet—just one start, against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup—before the club sent him to Girona for the season to get minutes.

That spell in Spain was not without its frustrations. Girona were relegated, but Reis came through it with significant development under Míchel, starting 36 La Liga games and contributing a goal and an assist. His pace in covering counter-attacks was a standout, and his overall profile—physique, technical ability, composure on the ball—has drawn comparisons to John Stones, who has since departed for Inter.

Until the close of the summer window on Tuesday night, there was real uncertainty around Reis' future. With any exit now off the table, City have no opportunity to bring in a replacement. That suits Reis fine. He is determined to be a key part of the club's future and is said to be focused on doing his best at the Etihad this season.

Maresca first took note of Reis during pre-season, when City travelled to Hong Kong and South Korea. The No.22 lined up against Inter Milan, the K-League Allstars and Atlético de Madrid, and was highlighted for his quality on the ball. Within Maresca's system, Reis could feature centrally or on the right of a three-man line in build-up play; without the ball, he is most likely to operate as a traditional centre-half.

The competition is stiff—Abdukodir Khusanov, Rúben Dias, Marc Guéhi and Josko Gvardiol are all vying for spots—but Reis has the tools and the backing to make it interesting. He will keep working hard, ready for any minute he gets.

According to TEAMtalk, the 26-year-old will assess his situation again when the transfer window reopens if he doesn't feature prominently in the first half of the season. It's a familiar refrain for a player who has long been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Both Manchester City and Liverpool have shown interest in Neto to a greater or lesser extent. Fabrizio Romano reports that Enzo Maresca's side made contact with the forward's agent, though no official bid was ever lodged. Chelsea, for their part, were demanding a hefty £100m for the Portuguese international—a figure that no team, not even the most ambitious, was willing to meet.

Neto didn't push to leave, and Chelsea never made him available for transfer, unlike others in Xabi Alonso's squad. Their valuation reflected a simple reality: they would only consider a sale if clubs were prepared to pay over the odds. That stance may soften if his situation doesn't improve.

One potential suitor has already dropped out of the race. Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal were reportedly chasing Neto last month, but they've just announced the arrival of Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal. With their transfer deadline set for October 12th, they could still table bids for the best part of a month, but they're not expected to maintain their interest in the player.

Neto started and scored during Chelsea's 4-3 win over Brighton last weekend, a reminder of the quality he possesses. Whether that translates into a more prominent role under Maresca remains to be seen. For City, watching from the wings, January could offer another chance to land a player who's been on their radar for some time.

Enzo Maresca has confirmed that new signing Enzo Fernandez will not be tied to a single position, describing the Argentine as a player who can operate as a deep-lying six or push higher as a number eight.

The City boss, speaking to the media ahead of the club’s third Premier League fixture of the season against Coventry City, outlined how he intends to deploy the World Cup winner following his move from Chelsea.

“As a six or also number eight, arriving in the box, it depends a little. With me at Chelsea he scored lots arriving from the second line, so it depends. We’re going to use him in different positions… I see Enzo as a six, a little more deep, or a little higher arriving in the box. [It] Depends a little what we need for the game and we’re going to use him in different positions.”

The flexibility is notable. Fernandez is widely regarded as an elite deep-lying playmaker, someone who typically dictates the tempo for Argentina. He did exactly that superbly at last summer’s World Cup and, at times, for Chelsea.

Yet Maresca’s comments suggest he sees more than a metronome in the middle. The reference to goals arriving from the second line hints at a player who can time runs into the box as well as sit and control proceedings.

It helps that the pair know each other well. Maresca worked extremely effectively with the Argentinian during their time together at Stamford Bridge, and now they will continue that relationship at the Etihad, with City heading into the campaign as both FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders.

Quite where Fernandez fits in the pecking order remains to be seen, but the early signs are that Maresca did not merely want a midfielder — he wanted this midfielder, the one he trusts to adapt to whatever the game demands.

Iliman Ndiaye has been a Manchester City player for barely 72 hours. By the sound of it, that has been long enough for Enzo Maresca to reach a fairly emphatic conclusion about his new winger.

Speaking to the media yesterday, the City boss was asked about the deadline-day addition from Everton and did not hold back.

"He's so good, he's so good. In the last two days, you can see already how good he is in terms of 1v1, in terms of in the last third, inside the box. I'm very happy to have him with us."

High praise, and perhaps a hint that Ndiaye's first start for the Blues is not far away. The question is whether it comes this afternoon.

An ideal opening?

City welcome Coventry City to the Etihad for their third Premier League outing of the season. It is the first of five matches in fifteen days across all competitions for Maresca's side — a congested stretch that will demand rotation.

Coventry, for their part, typically set out to play attacking football, or at least attempt to. That could leave space in behind for a player whose chief currency is beating opponents one-on-one. Ndiaye, after all, is among the best in the division at exactly that.

There is no fitness concern to hold him back. The 26-year-old Senegalese international has already played three times for Everton this season, so match sharpness is not an issue. He arrives at City having earned the move through performances for both Sheffield United and the Toffees.

The only caveat is the obvious one: Ndiaye has been a City player only since Tuesday. A debut from the bench is just as plausible as a start. Yet with five games in fifteen days looming, Maresca may feel the time is right to give his newest signing a proper run-out against a side who will not simply park the bus.

Either way, the early signs have clearly pleased the manager. Whether Ndiaye lines up from the first whistle or is introduced later, the sense is that his moment is approaching quickly.

The transfer window has slammed shut, and City have made their statement. A new club-record £125 million has been committed to bring Enzo Fernandez to the Etihad, a deal that was not only a financial landmark but, according to Enzo Maresca, one that has energised the dressing room.

The negotiations were a saga in themselves. Chelsea's asking price shifted around like a tide, starting at £120 million in mid-August before creeping up to £135 million as the market neared its close. City's initial offer of £104 million plus add-ons was ultimately swept aside, with the final figure eclipsing the £116 million paid for Elliot Anderson in July.

Maresca, speaking after the window closed, was candid about the buzz around the Argentine. "I know Enzo quite well, I know what he can bring to the team," he said. "He's a winner, has a winning mentality, he knows how to win - World Cup, Club World Cup."

Perhaps the most telling insight was the manager's revelation about the squad's reaction. "I can promise you in the last four or five days, four or five players were asking if he's coming or not, because they wanted him with us!"

Fernandez is not just a name on a contract; he is ready to play. Maresca confirmed the midfielder will be available for selection as soon as this weekend, potentially making his debut in Sky Blue almost immediately.

The manager was quick to spread the credit around, expressing his happiness with the backing from the ownership, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Hugo Viana. "Very happy for the effort from the ownership, Khaldoon, Hugo," he said.

Ndiaye Adds Another Dimension

Fernandez was not the only arrival in the final days of the window. Iliman Ndiaye, who turned down an offer from Tottenham Hotspur to join City in a £65 million package, has also been brought in to bolster the forward line.

The 26-year-old Senegal international is viewed as a versatile option, but he will provide direct competition for Jeremy Doku, who has been sidelined with a calf injury. Maresca has been impressed early on: "He's so good! In the last two days, you can see already how good he is in terms of one-v-one, the last third, inside the box."

With Ndiaye and Fernandez through the door, Maresca declared the squad complete. "In the last days, Iliman and Enzo arrived, and now the squad is complete, it's finished, and now it's time to work!"

There is also a nod to the future, with Brazilian starlet Allan Elias in contention for his first outing following a €40 million move from Palmeiras.

Matheus Nunes is back in the frame for Manchester City this weekend, with Enzo Maresca confirming the midfielder will be in the squad to face Coventry City.

The Portuguese international missed last Friday's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace as he continued his recovery from an injury picked up during the warm-up before the FA Community Shield loss to Arsenal in Cardiff. Jeremy Doku was also absent for that match with a calf problem, and he remains sidelined.

“Jeremy [Doku] is still out. Matheus [Nunes] is back, and he will be with us tomorrow. Enzo [Fernández] is ready,” Maresca said.

That last name is the one that will interest supporters most. Enzo Fernández has completed his move from Chelsea and is ready to go, having played just 25 minutes of football this season for his former club. He was one of three arrivals in the closing stages of the summer window, along with Allan and Iliman Ndiaye.

Maresca made no secret of his relief that the business is done. “I’m very, very happy! Very happy for the effort from the ownership, Khaldoon [Al Mubarak], Hugo [Viana]. Very happy! In the last days, Iliman [Ndiaye] and Enzo [Fernandez] arrived, and now the squad is complete, it’s finished, and now it’s time to work,” he said.

The timing is handy. City, who hold both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, face a congested run of games between now and the first international break of the season. Having players fit and ready to go is huge for the cup holders.

Nunes' return gives Maresca another option in midfield, while Fernández, assuming he is fit enough, adds further depth. Doku's absence is a concern, but the squad is looking healthier than it did a week ago.

Enzo Maresca has waited all summer to put the finishing touches on his captaincy set-up. With the transfer window now shut, the City boss has confirmed the full four-man leadership group that will carry the armband through the season.

Marc Guéhi and Gianluigi Donnarumma join Rúben Dias and Erling Haaland as the club's four captains, with the decision confirmed ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Coventry City.

The Italian had named Dias and Haaland as his first two captains before a ball was kicked, but deliberately held off on the remaining spots until the window had closed. Now that the squad is finalised, the picture is complete.

Dias, who has worn the armband in City's opening two Premier League victories over Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, was always the natural pick for a senior role. The Portuguese defender leads by example, and his early-season captaincy has looked comfortable.

Guéhi arrives at the Etihad with leadership pedigree already in place, having captained Crystal Palace before his move north. Donnarumma, meanwhile, has captained his country and has been operating at the highest level since his teenage years, so the armband is no novelty for the Italian goalkeeper either.

The quartet offers a blend of experience and authority that should serve City well across a long campaign. With the window shut and the group settled, Maresca can now focus on the football rather than the dressing-room politics.

Manchester City Women will face Paris Saint-Germain at home in the Champions League league phase, the first time the two clubs have ever met. It is a fixture that brings a sprinkle of glamour to a group-stage draw that also includes a trip to Bayern Munich and a debut encounter with Internazionale.

Andrée Jeglertz's side learned their fate as the new-look competition takes shape, with every team playing six matches against six different opponents, three at home and three away. City will host their matches at Joie Stadium, as they do for most WSL games, though knockout fixtures are expected to be moved to the Etihad.

The draw has been kind in some respects. City avoided last year's two finalists, Barça Femení and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and will instead welcome competition debutants Austria Wien to the North West. But the away schedule offers little comfort, with Bayern Munich looming as the toughest test on paper.

There is a curious quirk in the fixture list: City have never met German opposition before, making the trip to Bavaria a voyage into the unknown. Similarly, BK Häcken will be new opponents, even if the reigning UEFA Women's Europa Cup holders arrive as something of a novelty. The pair will meet at the Nordic Wellness Arena in Göteborg, where City will hope to extend their perfect record against Swedish clubs, having won all six such matches to date.

"This will be the first time they have ever faced les Rouge-et-Bleu."

Real Madrid, by contrast, are familiar foes, having eliminated City from qualifying in both 2021 and 2022. The visit to Arena Gianni Brer will be the first-ever meeting with Internazionale, while the memory of a previous 8-0 aggregate thrashing of Fiorentina offers some comfort when facing Italian opposition.

Home matches against Austria Wien and PSG are followed by away days in Göteborg, Milan, and Munich, with the final league-phase fixture still to be confirmed. The full fixture list will be released by UEFA on Saturday.

For those planning their viewing, Disney+ will broadcast all Women's Champions League matches in the UK, with the BBC showcasing seven fixtures a season free-to-air. Across the Atlantic, matches can be found on CBS Sports Golazo and Paramount+.

City will need to hit the ground running if they are to secure a top-four finish and a direct route to the quarter-finals, with around 13 points likely required based on last year's inaugural edition. Clubs ranked fifth to twelfth enter the play-offs, while the bottom six sides are eliminated after the league phase.

Matheus Nunes is back in the frame for Manchester City, with Enzo Maresca confirming the Portuguese fullback is available for selection once again.

Nunes has been conspicuous by his absence through the opening exchanges of the 2026/27 campaign. He missed the Community Shield meeting with Arsenal and both league outings against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, failing to make the matchday squad for any of those fixtures.

Last week the City boss was still preaching caution, suggesting Nunes was not yet at full fitness. But the picture has shifted, and the 28-year-old is now expected to take a seat on the substitutes' bench this weekend as the Blues host Coventry City.

The timing works neatly enough. Saturday's game at the Etihad hands Nunes a gentle reintroduction, with the expectation that he will be back in the mix from that point onward.

Doku's recovery remains a watching brief

The same cannot quite be said for Jeremy Doku. Maresca confirmed the Belgian is still on the treatment table after pulling up with a calf strain during the first half of last month's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.

Two weeks ago the manager offered a relatively encouraging prognosis, suggesting the winger would be sidelined for no more than two to three weeks. If that timeline holds and there are no setbacks along the way, Doku should be back on the training pitch shortly after the Coventry game.

That would put him in a tight spot for the trip to Old Trafford. The Manchester derby is nine days away, and the Belgian will be desperate to feature. It could go either way.

Sunday 13th September is the date pencilled in for his return, though nobody at the club will be rushing him if he is not ready.

New faces finally through the door

While the medical staff keep busy, Maresca has welcomed some fresh blood. Enzo Fernandez, Iliman Ndiaye and Allan all arrived just before the transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday night, and the trio should be in line for minutes in the coming weeks.

The City boss made no secret of his relief at getting the deals over the line.

'I am very, very happy, from the effort from the ownership, Khaldoon [Al Mubarak], Hugo [Viana]. Iliman [Ndiaye] and Enzo [Fernandez] arrive and the squad is complete. Now it is time to work.'

There is a sense that the squad is finally where the manager wants it. Whether Nunes can force his way into the starting XI and Doku can shake off his injury in time for the derby remains to be seen.

When Enzo Maresca named his side to face Bournemouth, the team sheet raised a few eyebrows. Marc Guehi, a centre-back by trade, was stationed in central midfield alongside Elliot Anderson. It was a bold call, and for much of the first half, it looked like a gamble that might backfire.

City trailed to a 26th-minute goal, and the experiment seemed to be unravelling. But Guehi, showing the composure that has defined his career, headed home an 84th-minute equaliser from a Rayan Cherki cross, before Josko Gvardiol won it in stoppage time. The 2-1 victory was secured, and Maresca's thinking was vindicated.

A Solution for the Future

Speaking after the match, Maresca explained his reasoning. "I know Marc from Palace and I always thought he could be a good midfielder," he said. The Italian had tried Guehi as a central defender stepping in during the first two days of the week following the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, before switching him to a proper midfield role in the final two days of preparation.

"Overall, I think it was a good performance from him," Maresca added. "The good thing is he now also gives us a solution for the future." The England international, it seems, is now "another option in the middle" for City.

"I felt good and comfortable," Guehi said. "There was a lot of work on the training pitch with the manager in the week before. I'm fortunate enough to have so many good team-mates around me and helped me before and during the game to feel at ease to step into that position. It was really enjoyable."

Back to Basics Against Palace

For the visit of Crystal Palace, Guehi's former club, Maresca shuffled his pack. Guehi returned to his usual spot in the backline, with Rico Lewis at right back and Nico O'Reilly pushed further forward. The change worked. City ran out 4-1 winners, with Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki both grabbing braces.

Guehi was back to his defensive best, contributing five defensive actions, including three clearances and four recoveries, while maintaining a 98% pass accuracy over the 90 minutes. Maresca was quick to explain the switch. "We try to find solutions. Marc was in midfield last week. Today we changed something. It's my job to find the solution."

Cherki's Impact

Cherki, who had been left out of the starting XI against Bournemouth, came off the bench to replace O'Reilly in the 63rd minute and made a decisive impact, assisting both the equaliser and the winner. Against Palace, he was handed a start and repaid the faith with two goals.

Guehi was full of praise for the 23-year-old. "Rayan is a fantastic player with such a fantastic future ahead of him. He's definitely made a difference coming on and usually does in any game he plays. He's a player we love and just want to carry on doing well. He's always smiling – he's just a good guy to have around."

New Faces, High Hopes

City's midfield has been bolstered by the arrivals of Anderson from Nottingham Forest, Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, and the record-breaking £125 million signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in the final week of the transfer window. Guehi, who has made 23 appearances for City since joining in January, scoring three goals and providing an assist, has been impressed by the new additions.

"Elliot looks like he's settled in very well. It's still early days but so far, he looks very comfortable and like himself. I think we'll only see more and more and the best of Elliot," Guehi said. "Ayyoub is a very exciting young player with loads of potential and a great future ahead of him. I know everyone here will take good care of him and everyone is excited to see him play."

With the squad now brimming with options, City sit top of the table after two games with six points, ahead of Arsenal, Hull City and Chelsea on goal difference. Next up is a trip to newly promoted Coventry City on September 5. The puzzle Maresca is piecing together is taking shape, and Guehi, it seems, is happy to be part of the solution, wherever that may be.

Manchester City's summer midfield rebuild very nearly looked very different. According to German football expert Christian Falk, writing for CF Bayern Insider, the Blues had Aleksandar Pavlovic at the top of their list before eventually turning to Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Falk claims City held talks over the Bayern Munich man as early as March, with the Bundesliga side's 22-year-old viewed as the number one option for the position. The interest was, in his words, "incredibly concrete".

"Manchester City had Aleksandar Pavlović as their number one option for the position."

It is a detail that puts the scale of City's summer spending into sharper focus. Falk suggests the Blues could have paid as much as €100m (£85.8m) for Pavlovic — and that figure was only the starting point.

Pavlovic, though, needed time to think. At 22, he was hardly in a rush. In the end, he decided to stay at the Allianz Arena, a choice that left City to move on to their second choice on the list.

That second choice was Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, who arrived at the Etihad for €95m (£81.5m). The near-identical fee tells its own story about how highly City rated Pavlovic — and how determined they were to land a midfielder of that profile regardless of the cost.

City's need was obvious. Rodri's departure left a hole in the centre of the pitch, and the club moved to fill it with three new central midfielders this summer: Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez all came through the door.

Pavlovic, for his part, was not the only alternative explored. The Athletic also revealed an enquiry for Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, another sign of how thorough the recruitment drive was.

Falk insists there was no formal offer lodged with Bayern — the club were simply made aware of the interest. But he is clear on how close this one came.

"If he'd said yes, he'd have been a Manchester City player by now, so you can see just how concrete it was. In the end, he decided for Bayern Munich."

Football's sliding doors, and all that. City ended up with their second pick for a fee that barely differed from what they would have paid for their first. Sometimes Plan B costs just as much as Plan A.

Manchester City's final days of the summer transfer window were, by any measure, chaotic. New behind-the-scenes footage has emerged showing the sheer scale of the club's business, with four arrivals and two significant departures squeezed into a frantic stretch.

The documentary-style footage captures the signings of Ayyoub Bouaddi, Allan Elias, Iliman Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez, while also documenting the exits of Omar Marmoush to Tottenham and Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle United. It is a snapshot of a squad being reshaped in real time.

The €100m Teenager and His Icons

At the heart of the activity is Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Morocco international who arrives from Lille for a fee of €100 million — €95 million upfront with €5 million in add-ons. He has signed a five-year contract that keeps him at the Etihad until 2031.

Bouaddi, who announced himself on the global stage at the FIFA World Cup in North America over the summer, was visibly taking in the scale of what was unfolding around him. When asked about his Premier League inspirations, he name-checked two former City greats.

"I really liked Kevin De Bruyne when he was in City and before him, Yaya Toure, he was really impressive. I think he was one icon of the midfielders."

The deal required CEO Ferran Soriano to fly to Lille for personal negotiations — a measure of how highly the club rates the teenager. Manager Enzo Maresca, greeting his new signing, delivered a warm welcome. "Today it's better than yesterday," he told Bouaddi. "Because you are here!"

Maresca also addressed the squad directly about the youngster, making it clear that no pressure should be heaped on his shoulders. "He is 18, and the most important thing, the message that we want to give you is that you don't need to prove to anyone here."

Record-Breaking Fernandez and a Snapchat Warning

If Bouaddi represents the future, Enzo Fernandez is very much the present. The 25-year-old Argentina international joined from Chelsea for a new British transfer record of £125 million, signing a five-year contract until June 2031. Director of football Hugo Viana was clearly pleased with the work, exclaiming: "Well done guys! Well done! Good job, good job!"

Fernandez, for his part, made a point of thanking Soriano for his handling of the transfer. "Thank you very much! Thank you for your efforts and for how you handled this transfer. The truth is, it's a pleasure for me to be here at a great club like this, and hopefully we'll win many titles together!"

The departures were just as notable. Omar Marmoush leaves for Tottenham after contributing 16 goals and six assists in 62 appearances in all competitions. His farewell came with a light-hearted warning from Erling Haaland, who told his departing teammate: "You'd better not ghost me on Snapchat." Nico Gonzalez, the 24-year-old Spaniard, also completed a permanent move to Newcastle United during the same window.

Between the record fees, the personal flights and the social media jokes, it was a window that encapsulated modern football's strange blend of high finance and human moments. City's midfield has a new look — and the cameras were there to capture every second of it.

Early Life and Footballing Roots

Ndiaye was born in Rouen, France, on 6 March 2000. His father is Senegalese and his mother French, giving him a connection to both countries that would eventually shape his international career.

He began playing football in his home city with Rouen Sapins before progressing into the FC Rouen youth system. As a youngster, he also spent time with Marseille, but his development took an unusual turn when his family moved to Senegal.

There, Ndiaye continued his football education with Dakar Sacré-Cœur, an academy with links to European football. The experience of playing in both France and Senegal helped shape the technically gifted and instinctive player he would eventually become.

At 16, Ndiaye returned to England to live with his father. Rather than joining one of the country’s established academies, he found himself at Boreham Wood, playing at a level far removed from the Premier League.

He also played Sunday League football with Rising Ballers, an organisation that helped showcase young players to professional clubs. It was there that his talent began attracting serious attention.

Sheffield United and the Long Road to the Top

Ndiaye joined Sheffield United in 2019, but his first taste of senior football came in the most unlikely surroundings.

In 2020, he was sent on loan to Hyde United in the Northern Premier League. He was just 19 and earning around £100 a week.

The move might have seemed like a setback, but Ndiaye embraced it.

His commitment was extraordinary. Having already trained with Sheffield United earlier in the day, he would travel by train from Sheffield to Hyde for evening sessions. During the winter, he would arrive at the ground in darkness and was regularly the first player there.

Hyde manager David McGurk later recalled having to take Ndiaye off the pitch because it was time to turn the floodlights off.

The numbers were modest – one goal in nine appearances – but the talent was obvious. McGurk described a player whose technical ability, movement and understanding of the game were already operating at a level above non-league football. (

The hard work eventually paid off.

Ndiaye made his Sheffield United first-team debut in March 2021 and gradually established himself in the Championship. His breakthrough season came in 2022-23, when he became one of the most exciting attacking players in the division.

He scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists as Sheffield United secured promotion to the Premier League. His performances earned him both the club’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, as well as recognition in the Championship Team of the Season. 

The boy who had been playing Sunday League football was suddenly one of the most sought-after young attacking players in England.

Marseille: A Difficult Season

In the summer of 2023, Ndiaye moved to France to join Marseille.

The transfer represented another significant step in his career, but his single season in Ligue 1 proved difficult. He made 30 league appearances but scored only three goals.

Despite the disappointing statistics, his underlying talent remained clear. Marseille had paid around £17 million for him, believing there was considerably more to come.

After only one season in France, Ndiaye returned to England.

This time, it was to join Everton.

Everton: Becoming a Premier League Star

Everton signed Ndiaye in July 2024, bringing him back to the league where he had first made his name.

The move proved transformative.

At Goodison Park, Ndiaye quickly became one of Everton’s most important attacking players. His ability to receive the ball under pressure, carry it past defenders and create something from nothing made him a natural focal point for the Toffees’ attack.

His first Everton season was particularly impressive. He scored nine Premier League goals and finished the campaign with 11 goals in all competitions.

The following season he remained an important part of the side, adding another six Premier League goals.

Across his two seasons at Everton, Ndiaye made 74 appearances and contributed 21 goals and assists. 

More importantly, he established himself as one of the Premier League’s most naturally gifted attacking players outside the established Big Six.

His performances also attracted attention from some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

And eventually, Manchester City came calling.

Manchester City: The Next Step

On 1 September 2026, Manchester City completed the signing of Ndiaye from Everton for a reported £65 million, comprising £60 million guaranteed and a further £5 million in potential bonuses.

The 26-year-old signed a five-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad until the summer of 2031. 

It is a remarkable destination for a player whose professional career once included travelling by train to evening training sessions at a non-league club.

Ndiaye was also strongly linked with Tottenham in the final days of the transfer window, but ultimately chose City.

Speaking after completing the move, he made it clear that his preference was never really in doubt.

He said that he had worked his whole life for an opportunity like this and that he believed he could play for a team challenging for the biggest prizes. He also explained that he wanted to play in an attacking team that keeps the ball on the ground and looks to score. 

That sounds like a pretty good description of what Manchester City are trying to build under Enzo Maresca.

International Career: Senegal

Although born in France, Ndiaye chose to represent Senegal.

He was included in Senegal’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making his international debut shortly before the tournament.

Since then, he has become an established member of the Senegal side and was also involved in the 2026 World Cup.

At the 2026 tournament, Ndiaye contributed one goal and two assists as Senegal competed on the world’s biggest stage. 

His international career has added another dimension to his experience. He has played alongside some of Africa’s finest players and now arrives at City with experience of major international tournaments as well as Premier League football.

Style of Play

Ndiaye is an attacking midfielder who can operate across the front line. He is comfortable playing from the left or right, through the middle, or in a more traditional number 10 role.

Perhaps his most obvious quality is his ability to beat defenders.

He has excellent close control, a low centre of gravity and an instinctive ability to manipulate the ball in tight spaces. Rather than simply relying on pace, he uses changes of direction, body movement and quick touches to create room.

He is also comfortable using both feet, which makes him particularly difficult for defenders to read.

His movement is another major strength. Ndiaye is constantly looking for pockets of space between midfield and defence, while his ability to turn with the ball allows him to attack defences from central positions.

There is also an element of unpredictability to his game. He is the type of player who can receive the ball in an apparently harmless position and, within seconds, turn it into a dangerous attacking situation.

His creativity is perhaps just as important as his goalscoring. City have plenty of players capable of finishing chances, but Ndiaye brings the ability to manufacture them.

That combination of dribbling, movement, creativity and versatility should make him an interesting fit for Maresca’s system.

What Can City Expect?

The biggest question is whether Ndiaye can translate his individual brilliance into consistent performances at the very highest level.

At Everton, he was often one of the team’s primary attacking outlets. At City, the responsibility will be different.

He will be surrounded by technically elite players and will have to compete for places with the likes of Jérémy Doku, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland.

That competition could ultimately work in his favour.

Ndiaye has spent virtually his entire career having to prove himself. From Boreham Wood to Hyde United, from the Championship to Marseille and then Everton, there has always been another level to reach.

Now he has reached Manchester City.

The challenge is to show that he belongs there.

Career Statistics and Honours

Club senior career:

• Sheffield United: 77 appearances, 21 goals
• Marseille: 30 appearances, 3 goals
• Everton: 74 appearances, 17 goals
• Manchester City: Joined September 2026

International career:

• Senegal: 39 caps, 4 goals

Major honours and awards:

• Championship promotion: 2022-23 – Sheffield United
• Championship Team of the Season: 2022-23
• Sheffield United Player of the Year: 2022-23
• Sheffield United Players’ Player of the Year: 2022-23
• FIFA World Cup appearances: 2022 and 2026
• Africa Cup of Nations winner: 2025 – Senegal

The Verdict

Iliman Ndiaye’s career is one of perseverance as much as talent.

Very few £65 million Manchester City signings can claim to have spent their formative years playing Sunday League football and their first senior loan spell in the seventh tier of English football.

Ndiaye has had to work for every step.

The raw talent was always there. What has changed is the consistency and maturity with which he now applies it.

At 26, he arrives at Manchester City in the prime years of his career, rather than as an untested youngster. He knows English football, understands the demands of the Premier League and has experience of international football at the highest level.

Most importantly, he brings something City always value: a player capable of making things happen.

If Maresca can harness Ndiaye’s natural creativity and combine it with City’s possession-based attacking football, the Senegalese forward could become one of the most exciting additions to the new-look Manchester City side.

From Hyde United to the Etihad.

It is quite some journey.

The summer window closed with City's cheque book doing most of the shouting. Enzo Fernández arrived from Chelsea for £125million, Iliman Ndiaye turned up from Everton, and the club handed Fernández the No.17 shirt previously worn by Kevin De Bruyne.

All of which is fine, as far as it goes. But transfer fees don't pick the team. Two games into the Premier League season, the side picking itself has a distinctly different look to the one the accountants assembled.

The kids have taken their chance

Rico O'Reilly, all 21 years of him, has started both league matches. Elliot Anderson has done the same, giving him an early foothold in Enzo Maresca's midfield before Fernández has even played a minute. Ayyoub Bouaddi made his debut at Selhurst Park, while Mateo Kovačić has had to settle for a place on the bench in both games.

For all the money thrown around this summer, it is the ones who were already there — or who cost a fraction of the headline numbers — who are setting the tone.

Cherki is making the point emphatically

Rayan Cherki came off the bench against Bournemouth and created both goals in a 2-1 comeback. He then started at Crystal Palace and scored twice in a 4-1 win. Four direct goal involvements from two games is not a bad way to introduce yourself.

Antoine Semenyo has started twice and played the full 90 minutes on both occasions, supplying the cross for Erling Haaland's opening goal at Selhurst Park. Jérémy Doku, meanwhile, missed the opening two matches through injury — not because Maresca had suddenly gone off him.

The picture forming is of a midfield in flux, and a manager willing to trust those who have earned it. Fernández knows Maresca well from their time together at Chelsea, which should help him settle. But knowing the boss is one thing. Dislodging an in-form 21-year-old who has started every game is another.

There is a long season ahead, and the £125million man will get his chances. Right now, though, the pecking order belongs to the ones who have already done their talking on the pitch.

Ayyoub Bouaddi's first Manchester City appearance was a brief one, but the message from those who have watched him closely since is clear: this is a player being prepared for far more than cameo roles.

The 18-year-old Moroccan international arrived from Lille carrying a reputation as one of European football's most exciting midfield prospects. A standout World Cup with Morocco only reinforced that billing, and his late cameo in last Friday's 4-1 win at Crystal Palace offered a first glimpse in a City shirt.

It has been reported that Bouaddi is making an impression at City training and will have an important role to play for Enzo Maresca's side this season.

James Ducker of The Telegraph has detailed where the club see him fitting in, with the number six role identified as his natural home. Jeremy Cross of The Mirror adds that the teenager has made a huge impression in training sessions, with Maresca prepared to be patient given his age.

That patience, though, comes with expectation. The reports suggest Bouaddi will play more often than many might anticipate.

City did not part with £85 million to bring a teenager from Lille merely to warm the bench. The investment, and the early indications from the training ground, point towards a player who is expected to contribute meaningfully this season.

Bouaddi already possesses the technical quality, physical attributes and tactical awareness required to step into this midfield. His displays in Ligue 1 and on the World Cup stage suggest he is more than ready to establish himself as a genuine option for Maresca.

None of this should come as a shock. But it does serve as further confirmation of the calibre of talent City have secured. By the end of the 2026-27 campaign, it would be no surprise to look back and see Bouaddi firmly established as a key pillar of this team.

When City last locked horns with Coventry, Kevin Keegan was in the dugout, Maine Road was still the backdrop, and both clubs were scrapping in the second tier. Saturday’s meeting at the Etihad marks the first time the sides have crossed paths in any competition since that March 2002 afternoon.

Back then, Keegan’s side were chasing promotion to the top flight, and a 4-2 win over the Sky Blues helped keep that dream alive. Darren Huckerby and Danny Tiatto got the goals before a young Shaun Wright-Phillips added two more, with Lee Mills netting both for the visitors in front of 33,335 at Maine Road.

That starting XI reads like a roll call of an era: Huckerby, Wright-Phillips, Ali Benarbia, Shaun Goater and Stuart Pearce all featured. It was a team built for a specific moment, one that delivered.

Two clubs, two very different decades

Twenty-four years on, the landscape has shifted beyond recognition. Coventry return to Manchester as a Premier League club once more, a status they have clawed back after years in the lower divisions. City, under Enzo Maresca, have opened this season with two wins from two.

The gap between these clubs has never looked wider, but the history tells a more complicated story. City haven’t beaten Coventry in the top flight since March 1993. The eight league meetings at that level since have produced four draws and four Coventry wins, though the most recent of those came in January 2001 — over two decades ago.

So while the Premier League table suggests a straightforward afternoon for the Blues, the record offers a gentle reminder that Coventry have often been awkward opponents. That 4-2 win in 2002 came in the second tier, not the top flight.

A reunion worth savouring

There is something fitting about this fixture returning to the Premier League after so long. For City, it is a measure of how far the club has travelled since the Keegan years. For Coventry, it is a chance to remind everyone how far they have come themselves.

Saturday’s meeting may be the first in 24 years, but the memories of that Maine Road afternoon will not have faded for those who were there. A different ground, a different manager, a different world — but the same fixture, finally back where it belongs.

There is a particular thrill to a European draw when you have been away from it for a while. Manchester City's women are about to experience that again, with the league phase of the Champions League set to be mapped out in Nyon on Friday 4 September.

It has been a decade in the making, in some respects. Andrée Jeglertz guided the Sky Blues to a first Women's Super League title in ten years last season — the second in the club's history — and that silverware has bought them automatic passage into the league phase. No qualifiers, no nerves, no two-year exile. Just a place among Europe's elite once more.

The draw, which gets underway at 11am (BST), will be streamed live on UEFA.com. City supporters might want to clear the diary.

Pot 3 and the perils within

There is a catch, naturally. City find themselves in pot 3, which means the glamour ties are coming thick and fast. They are guaranteed to face two of Barcelona, Lyon, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain — one at home, one away.

For all the history those names carry, there is novelty here too. A meeting with PSG or Bayern would be a first. In fact, whoever City pull from pot 3, they will be facing them for the first time. European football has a way of serving up fresh rivalries, even if some old ones linger.

Real Madrid, for instance, have twice knocked City out in key qualifiers. That particular score is yet to be settled.

The format and the road ahead

City will play six matches in the league phase — three at the Academy Stadium, three away. They will face two teams from each pot, with the usual constraint that clubs from the same association cannot be drawn together. That spares them Arsenal and Chelsea at this stage, at least.

Should they draw Juventus, BK Häcken, Benfica or Roma, it would be a first meeting too. There is a lot of firsts floating around this draw.

After the six games, the top four go straight to the quarter-finals. Clubs finishing fifth to twelfth face a play-off round, while the bottom six are eliminated entirely. No safety net, no second chances.

A homecoming at Joie Stadium

City's European home is Joie Stadium, sitting on the Etihad campus. It holds 7,000, though UEFA fixtures see that reduced to just under 5,000. Should the Sky Blues progress deep into the knockout stages, some matches could move next door to the Etihad itself.

There is something fitting about that. A club returning to Europe's top table after two years away, with a title to defend and a point to prove. The draw on Friday will tell us who stands in their way. It might just be the start of something.

When the summer transfer window closed, City had secured the one player Enzo Maresca wanted above all others. Enzo Fernandez arrived from Chelsea on deadline day, the culmination of a pursuit that had the manager's fingerprints all over it.

The BBC has since detailed why Maresca pushed so hard to reunite with the World Cup winner. It comes down to something simple: Fernandez already speaks the language. The Argentine knows the intricacies of Maresca's system from their time together at a previous club, which means he should slot into City's midfield immediately rather than spending months learning on the job.

That familiarity is the point. With a new manager still embedding his ideas, having someone who can translate those demands to the rest of the squad is valuable. Fernandez's knowledge should help his teammates come to grips with what Maresca wants, making him a conduit between the training ground and the pitch.

"He is a top manager, honestly. I had him at my previous club. They were incredible moments. I learned so much with him."

Speaking to mancity.com, Fernandez made no secret of his admiration for his new boss. "He's very similar to Latin people, very passionate. So, for me, it's a pleasure to work with him."

The midfielder was also clear about the role Maresca played in making the move happen. "I'm also grateful because he was very important in bringing me here," he said. "To be honest, we were both very eager for it to happen, because it wasn't easy for me to be here today. But I know he also made a big effort, speaking to the club, and I'm grateful that he did that."

City paid Chelsea a hefty fee to make it happen, but Maresca has got his man. The question now is how quickly Fernandez gets up to speed.

A Leader Without the Armband

The combative midfielder is expected to take on a key role in this City side. He will bring that intricate knowledge of Maresca's system and is likely to be a leader on the pitch, even if he doesn't officially join the captaincy group.

Up next is the third Premier League fixture of the season, against newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad on Saturday. Given how highly Maresca rates Fernandez, it would be no surprise to see the Argentine handed his debut in the starting eleven, provided he's fit enough.

Maresca will want his conduit straight into the action. Fernandez knows the system, knows the manager, and knows what's expected. Throwing him in from the start would be the quickest way to get him working with his new teammates.

Whether he starts or not, the message is clear: this is a signing built on trust and understanding, and Maresca clearly believes it will pay off from day one.

Noel Gallagher has a clear answer for anyone wondering who City's next great talisman should be. It is not Erling Haaland. It is not even the £125m deadline-day arrival Enzo Fernandez. The lifelong Blue has looked at the new-look dressing room and settled on Rayan Cherki as the man to shape it around.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Gallagher was unequivocal about the 23-year-old Frenchman's place in the side. "They need to build the team around him," he said.

"He's got that indefinable thing that magicians have."

High praise, and the kind that tends to make a player's ears burn. But Cherki has spent the opening weeks of the season backing up the billing rather than shrinking from it.

A fast start at the Etihad

The numbers are already stacking up. Two assists against Bournemouth, then two goals at Selhurst Park in last Friday's 4-1 win at Crystal Palace. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to a new crowd.

Gallagher's description of Cherki goes beyond the usual footballer platitudes. There is a rough edge to him, and Gallagher clearly enjoys it. "He's gnarly, he says mad stuff, but I mean, he's an absolute diamond," he said.

It is some praise for a player who arrived in the same window as Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye, joining an attacking group already containing Haaland and Phil Foden. Competition for places is not exactly thin on the ground.

Whether Enzo Maresca shares Gallagher's view remains to be seen. But if Cherki keeps producing performances like the one at Palace, the manager may not have much choice in the matter.