Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca implemented a surprising tactical decision for his first Premier League game, fielding center-back Marc Guehi in a holding midfield role. This unconventional choice ultimately proved successful, contributing to City's 2-1 victory over Bournemouth after a late comeback.
Eyebrows were raised when Guehi was spotted in a defensive midfield setup during pre-match warm-ups. When the match began, it became clear this was not a trial run, with Guehi taking up the holding midfield position. The decision came after Manchester City suffered a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield the previous week, and the team was heading towards consecutive losses to start the season.
However, a dramatic turnaround in the final minutes saw Guehi score a towering header, equalizing for City, before Josko Gvardiol netted the winner. What initially seemed like a risky gamble transformed into what observers are calling a midfield masterstroke.
Guehi himself expressed surprise at the tactical switch but was pleased with the outcome. "It was just an idea the manager had, we worked on it in the week. We're trying different things, trying different solutions for the team," Guehi told Sky Sports. "I'm glad today it paid off in the end." He also noted to BBC Sport that he received significant support from teammates, which helped him feel comfortable in the unfamiliar position.
Maresca, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, explained his reasoning. "Marc Guehi has never played as a midfielder, today he was very good, so I am happy with the effort from the players," he said. "Sometimes you visualise things. I know Marc from Palace and I always thought he could play as a midfielder because he is very good. So we tried it for a few days and I think he was quite good."