Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca faces a crucial period during the international break as he attempts to address growing issues within his squad. After taking over from Pep Guardiola in the summer and starting with seven consecutive Premier League wins, the Italian coach has seen his side suffer three straight league defeats, dropping six points behind leaders Arsenal and falling to third place behind Brighton.
Off-Field Uncertainty and Squad Psychology
The dip in form comes after an announcement in September that City were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations, with the team currently continuing matches while awaiting the outcome of an appeal. Sports psychologist Dr Paul McCarthy, who has 25 years of experience working with top European clubs, explained to BBC Sport how off-field uncertainty can impact team performance.
“Players are like everyone else – they talk about what is going on in their own lives and things that are topical, especially about uncertain events,” McCarthy told BBC Sport. He noted that ongoing rumors and consecutive losses can erode a squad’s collective efficacy, which is their shared belief in their capability to win matches.
McCarthy added that waiting for the appeal decision creates psychological strain. “When people are uncertain about their future, that uncertainty leads to a lack of perceived control, so uncertainty is often more stressful than bad news and the research shows that,” he said. He explained that training and playing while the outcome remains beyond the players’ control naturally disrupts their focus.
Defensive Errors and Tactical Alterations
On the pitch, City’s defensive stability has faltered. The club has conceded 13 goals in 10 league matches—their highest total at this stage of a season since the 2008-09 campaign. While City made no individual errors resulting in goals during their opening seven games, four individual mistakes directly led to goals across their past three defeats against Aston Villa, Brighton, and Nottingham Forest.
Tactically, Maresca has permanently shifted to a 3-1-6 shape, replacing a second defensive midfielder with an additional attacking player. The adjustment has left the team more open in central areas. Summer departure Rodri left a void that mid-fielder Elliot Anderson has been asked to fill by transitioning from his natural roaming style into a sitting midfield role.
When Anderson steps out of his holding position to press, opponents have successfully targeted the vacant space behind him. Additionally, midfielder Enzo Fernandez regularly makes forward runs into the final third, which can leave City with only two or three players behind the ball to defend against opposition counter-attacks. Maresca addressed the transition issues following the defeat to Forest, stating, “You concede transitions when you lose the ball, and when you don’t win duels.”
The team’s build-up play has also experienced difficulties. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is less reliant on ball-playing capabilities, and the defensive unit has committed errors under pressure. The loss of Bernardo Silva, who previously dropped deep to progress the ball into midfield, has further impacted City’s ability to play out from the back, though young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi remains a potential option to help resolve build-up difficulties in upcoming fixtures.
