The Manchester City 2026/27 season has already presented Enzo Maresca with plenty to think about, as the new manager looks to build a side capable of competing for the biggest honours while several areas of the squad still demand attention.
Those concerns were made more visible in Maresca’s first competitive test, as Manchester City suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield final, further exposing some weaknesses in the squad that need major strengthening.
The result has also highlighted the work still required in the transfer market. Despite City boasting a solid and quality squad, there are still several key areas that need to be fixed before the team can be fully complete and able to challenge at the forefront for the Premier League title and Champions League glory.
With those areas still needing attention, the Manchester City 2026/27 season could depend heavily on how Maresca addresses them before the transfer window closes. With silverware ambitions on the line, the remaining decisions could determine whether City have enough quality and balance to challenge at the highest level.
Manchester City 2026/27 Season: The Gaps Maresca Cannot Ignore
The Manchester City 2026/27 season squad currently represents a team in clear transition after Pep Guardiola’s departure, with several qualities still present but also evidence of some structural gaps that Maresca must address.
Much of that concern is linked to the demands of the Enzo Maresca tactics, which involve a preferred 3-2 buildup with high pressing demands and specific patterns that require precise profiles to fit.
In view of this, some areas are lacking those perfect profiles or sufficient depth, including defensive midfield, wide attacking options, and fullback roles.
These key areas have caused issues with buildup cohesion, midfield solidity, and chance creation in attack, with early signs showing in preseason matches and also the Community Shield.
If these weaknesses are not fixed, fixture congestion across all competitions for the upcoming season will expose the system’s fit and missing profiles in key areas, potentially leading to underperformance from the squad.
Therefore, for Manchester City 2026/27 season to get up and running effectively, these gaps in the squad must be filled, with less than 15 days to go before the end of the 2026 Summer transfer window.
City Need a Midfield Enforcer Behind the Attack
One of the biggest concerns currently facing Manchester City is the lack of a genuine defensive midfielder following Rodri’s departure, as the Spanish midfielder has completed a move to Barcelona.
While City are in advanced negotiations to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi as his replacement, the Moroccan brings more technicality and control but less ability in winning tackles, making interceptions, and recovering possession.
That difference could become important because a midfielder capable of regularly breaking up play, winning duels, and regaining the ball in central areas is highly needed and central to Maresca’s system.
The Enzo Maresca tactics allow fullbacks and attacking midfielders to advance high up the pitch, leaving spaces that require a defensively minded midfielder to prevent opposition transitions.
For that reason, Maresca requires a player who can provide defensive steel in midfield while remaining comfortable progressing the ball and maintaining possession under pressure.
Bouaddi potentially coming in offers more on the progression and possession aspect but might be vulnerable when City faces a strong opponent with a balanced midfield, making a more defensive profile something that should remain high on Manchester City transfer targets.
Without this particular profile, the Manchester City 2026/27 season team risks structural vulnerability when they commit numbers forward or become exposed in transition.
Semenyo Is Not Enough: City Need More Goals From the Wings
While Maresca’s system places significant responsibility on a No. 9 as the primary goal threat, which City now have in Erling Haaland, the manager also requires significant goal contributions from the wings.
The Manchester City 2026/27 season squad currently consists of one natural goal-scoring winger in Antoine Semenyo, who scored 17 league goals last season, with his profile already proving valuable in strengthening the attack.
However, City now require a second wide forward capable of consistently contributing to the scoresheet rather than serving mainly as a creator or depth option.
That dual threat from both sides is important with the Enzo Maresca tactics because it forces opponents to defend wider areas more carefully while creating additional scoring avenues.
Having multiple high-output wingers will also allow for greater tactical variety, fluidity, and different angles of attack, making City less predictable for opponents.
Pedro Neto has been linked among Manchester City transfer targets, but the Portuguese winger offers a different profile, which still warrants finding the right winger who can create chances, attack the box, and clinically finish opportunities with consistency across a long campaign.
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The Right-Back Role Needs a New Dimension
Another area that could become increasingly important is the fullback position, as attacking fullbacks remain crucial to the Enzo Maresca tactics, and City currently possess that profile on the left side in Nico O’Reilly and Rayan Ait-Nouri while lacking the same option at right back.
Matheus Nunes remains an option on the right, but his attacking output of six goal contributions in 34 league matches underlines the need for a more natural attacking profile in that position.
City currently need a right back who can make overlapping runs and give the right-sided winger more one-on-one opportunities, allowing him to cut inside or receive the ball in better positions while also drawing defenders wide or deeper.
Such a profile should also be capable of contributing a high volume of accurate deliveries and cutbacks while making late arrivals into the box and adding another scoring threat.
The right profile would consequently give Enzo Maresca tactics greater flexibility in buildup and final-third patterns, giving City a more dynamic threat on the right side.
The Warning Signs Are Clear, Now City Must Respond
The transfer window is approaching its closing stages, and the Manchester City 2026/27 season squad still leaves some important voids to fill with time running out.
The warning signs have been evident in the preseason matches and Community Shield final, particularly in midfield protection, attacking variety, and the balance provided from the fullback positions.
Maresca now has limited time to address those concerns, and the decisions made during the final days of the window could have a significant impact on how his first season develops.
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