Enzo Mareska, the head coach of Manchester City, is still in the process of getting acquainted with his new squad, but the 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa has exposed significant issues within the team. Following the disappointing outing in Birmingham and the clash against PSG, both pundits and fans have highlighted some clear trends in the Citizens' performances.
The midfield has become a hot topic among supporters, with many questioning the absence of Ayoub Bouaddi from the starting XI. The trio of Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, and Ryan Cherki certainly shone in the 3-0 win over Liverpool, yet against opponents of Aston Villa's calibre, City's midfield faltered, allowing the opposition far too much freedom through the centre of the pitch.
Even more glaring was the issue on the defensive flanks in the absence of Nunes. Substitutes Abdulkadir Khusanov and Rico Lewis were unable to replicate what the Portuguese brings to the team. Although Nunes started as a midfielder and took some time to adapt to his new role, he has emerged as one of the league's best full-backs.
The statistics from the start of the 2025/26 campaign speak for themselves:
- With Nunes in the starting XI, Manchester City has won 38 out of 50 matches (with 8 draws), achieving an impressive win percentage of 76% and only 4 losses (8%).
- Without him, the team has lost 9 out of 23 matches (39%), with the win percentage dropping to 52%.
This season, Nunes maintains a flawless record in matches where he has started, including victories against Porto, Manchester United, and Liverpool. The defeat in Birmingham served as a clear message to Mareska: despite the tactical needs for full-backs, Mateus remains the most reliable and irreplaceable asset in City's defence.
