Read our 2026/27 season preview for Manchester City as Enzo Maresca takes the reins from the legendary Pep Guardiola.
A decade had passed with Guardiola at the helm and the Citizens basked in an unprecedented period of success, winning a batch of trophies including six Premier League titles and UEFA Champions League glory whilst playing luxurious football that left opposition supporters in awe.
Guardiola's longevity meant City supporters could be forgiven for taking it all for granted. Now the Catalan has departed, there's significant pressure on Maresca to scale the heights of his predecessor.
Key question
Can Enzo Maresca succeed where Pep Guardiola failed last season?
Finishing seven points off the pace of title winners Arsenal was not the fitting conclusion to Guardiola's tenure, and it's testament to the standards the Catalan instilled that a domestic double felt strangely underwhelming.
That's the environment Maresca is walking into, although the Italian is well acquainted to the overwhelming expectations at the Etihad Stadium, having been an influential member in Guardiola's coaching staff during their Treble success in 2023.
There's been a major structural reshuffle on the blue side of Manchester and despite a significant transition in the playing squad, Maresca's task remains unimpacted: reestablish the club at the pinnacle of English football.
However, accomplishing that whilst following on from one of the club's greatest ever managers is a daunting task; just ask David Moyes and Unai Emery. The difference is that Maresca inherits a squad that's been regenerated instead of one that's on the decline, and there's plenty of elite talent for the former Leicester City and Chelsea boss to work with.
City have lost a lot of experience this summer - Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones - whilst a number of Maresca's players have started pre-season late following their participation in the World Cup. A slow start haunted City in the previous campaign, and yet they begin the season with a favourable run of fixtures.
The manner in which City were swatted aside in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal will raise concern, but there is no need to hit panic stations just yet - and Maresca will plead for patience as he ushers in a new era at the Etihad.
Key transfer
Elliot Anderson
A lavish £115m transfer fee invites extraordinary scrutiny and the departure of Rodri to Barcelona means Elliot Anderson ideally needs to hit the ground running - so it's a good job he's a player who covered the second largest distance in England's top-flight last term.
Anderson's quietly established himself as one of the Premier League's most complete central midfielders across the previous two seasons at the City Ground and the 23-year-old showcased his skillset at the World Cup as he played a key role in England's path to the semi-finals.
While his efforts off the ball have been commended - Anderson led the division for duels won, possession won and fouls won in the 2025/26 Premier League - he is equally effective in possession and his ability to play through the lines will be a huge asset in helping Maresca's attack to function.
The challenge for Anderson will be translating his ball-winning and progressive qualities from a team that were battling relegation last season into one of the world's most demanding outfits.
Breakout star
Ryan McAidoo
Last season the 'Breakout Star' title belonged to Nico O'Reilly and any budding player in Manchester City's academy would love to replicate his ascendancy from unheralded talent to key first-teamer.
Fortunately for City, the Etihad Campus production line is awash with a variety of precocious defenders, midfielders and forwards, but one individual they're very excited about is winger Ryan McAidoo.
Making his competitive debut in the 10-1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup last season, McAidoo starred in the Premier League 2 with 12 goal contributions and appears primed to make the transition into competitive professional football.
The 18-year-old caught the eye during City's pre-season friendly draw against Inter Milan and despite there being an expectation he might go out on loan, Maresca has confirmed he intends to keep McAidoo around the first-team as he believes it will best serve his development.
A sharp accelerator with nimble footwork, McAidoo's ability in 1v1 situations caught the eye during City's pre-season tour of East Asia and he could emerge as a secret weapon for Maresca.
What is a good season?
In the mix for Premier League and UEFA Champions League silverware
Given the volume of changes at the Etihad Stadium, it's important Maresca make a smooth transition by ensuring Manchester City remain competitive across all competitions.
If Maresca finds himself in the midst of a difficult Premier League campaign, he can appease supporters with silverware in the EFL Cup or FA Cup, while a deep run in the UEFA Champions League will always offer a distraction if the club's league form fails to suffice.
While it can be easy to pass judgement from one Community Shield hammering, this is still a City side that won two cup competitions last season and possess the quality to still challenge at the very top.
Unearthing the consistency that Guardiola prided himself on will be tough for Maresca, and his credentials as an elite head coach are going to be under far greater scrutiny at the Etihad Stadium than Stamford Bridge, where he was afforded some slack due to Chelsea's youth-focused recruitment and previous failings.
If City do end the season trophyless, Maresca will at least need to have City go close in the Premier League.
Bold prediction
Adrian Bishop
To miss out on top four
It's almost unfathomable to imagine a Premier League campaign where Manchester City aren't bona fide title contenders, never mind potentially missing out on UEFA Champions League football.
No dynasty can last forever however, and the winds of change are well and truly blowing at the Etihad following Pep Guardiola's departure.
The obvious comparison to make is David Moyes' ill-fated spell at Manchester United after being named as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor. That year United ultimately slumped to seventh, marking the first time in more than two decades that the club hadn't secured European football.
Of course, the star-studded squad that Enzo Maresca is inheriting is by no means analogous to the ageing spine that Sir Alex had managed to carrying to a 13th Premier League title.
The last time City failed to finish in the top four came all the way back in 2009/10, but it remains to be seen if Maresca has what it takes to step into the biggest shoes in football and find a balance between putting his stamp on the squad and and not veering too far from Guardiola's all-conquering formula.
Less than two years ago the club went through a span of nine defeats in the space of 12 games yet still managed to recover and finish third. Would Maresca be able to steer City are from a similar tailspin should one occur? Perhaps we will soon find out.
Will they be better than last season?
Jaquob Crooke
No!
There are plenty of imponderables to consider with Manchester City. This is a transitional season for the club, and the loss of Rodri feels like it's being underestimated.
Elliot Anderson is not at the same level as the World Cup Golden Ball winner and the incoming Ayyoub Bouaddi will require time to settle. The Moroccan maestro has all of the ingredients to be a world-class operator for many years to come, but it remains to be seen whether he can sustain a Rodri-level impact over the course of the season.
There's also a noticeable chasm in the leadership group. Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones were all heavily influential figures and there's an onus on the likes of Ruben Dias, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland to show authority in the dressing room.
What will be of encouragement to Maresca over the summer was the form of Haaland for Norway. The prolific marksman suffered the consequences of his indispensability as the gruelling demands of a 52-game season appeared to take their toll, and the Italian may benefit from being more prudent than his predecessor with Haaland's minutes - yes, we're looking at the first half cameo against Exeter in the FA Cup third round.
Maresca may also benefit from a rejuvenated Phil Foden, who heads into the campaign with something to prove following his England omission, while the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki can thrive with a season now under their belts.
78 points was the joint-second lowest of Guardiola's regime, but in an increasingly competitive division, there's a chance Man City find themselves falling short of that tally. In a post-Guardiola era, City supporters may have to adjust their expectations.
