Enzo Maresma secured his inaugural victory as Manchester City’s manager with a convincing 3-1 triumph over the K‑League All Stars on the streets of Seoul. The match unfolded at a frantic pace, with all four goals finding the net within the first 23 minutes, a stark contrast to City’s recent penalty‑shootout disappointment against Inter Milan. The English side fielded an astonishing 22 players throughout the encounter, showcasing Maresma’s willingness to experiment with personnel and formations.
From the outset, City displayed a brand‑new tactical blueprint that diverged sharply from the patterns associated with Pep Guardiola. While Maresma has repeatedly stressed that he is not a "copy‑and‑paste" coach, his approach in Seoul underscored a fresh philosophy centred on fluid positional play and compact defending.
Right‑back Rico Lewis, for example, often slipped inside the back line when City possessed the ball, effectively bolstering a midfield trio composed of Mateo Kovacic, Tijjani Reijnders and the versatile Dutchman. This inward movement transformed the defensive shape into a three‑man block anchored by Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and the ever‑reliable Ruben Dias, allowing the full‑backs to surge forward without exposing the defence. The attacking unit was equally inventive. Wingers Ait‑Nouri and Antoine Semenyo were instructed to hug the touchlines and operate high up the pitch, stretching the opposition’s shape.
Their positioning paid immediate dividends: Ait‑Nouri, cutting in from the left flank, unleashed a precise strike in the ninth minute to open the scoring. Shortly after, Reijnders, arriving from deep with a powerful drive, linked up with Semenyo, whose clever back‑heel pass unlocked the Dutch midfielder for a low‑driven finish that restored City’s lead. The interplay highlighted Reijnders’ ability to make penetrating runs from deep and his technical composure on the ball – qualities that have attracted interest from clubs such as Nottingham Forest, who were rumored to be considering a £55 million bid. However, Maresma’s side will be keen to retain the Netherlands international after his decisive contribution in South Korea.
In the central attacking zone, Phil Foden was granted freedom in a No 10 role behind striker Malcom Muamba, who continued his pre‑season scoring streak. Muamba’s presence added a physical focal point, while Foden’s roaming allowed him to exploit pockets of space between the lines, further destabilising the All Stars’ defensive shape.
Meanwhile, Semenyo, despite not finding the net himself, delivered a performance that many observers labelled the most impressive of the match. The Ghanaian winger’s relentless dribbling, incisive runs and a sublime assist for Reijnders’ goal demonstrated his growing influence under Maresma’s guidance. After cutting inside and drawing a defensive block, Semenyo’s shot was parried, only for the rebound to fall to Muamba, who calmly tapped home to double City’s advantage. The second half saw a tactical adjustment when Semenyo was substituted at halftime for Savinho, a move that did not replicate the impact of the departing winger.
Nevertheless, City’s early dominance set the tone for the remainder of the game. The K‑League All Stars managed to pull one back through Dae‑Won Kim, who equalised just three minutes after Ait‑Nouri’s opener – a quicker response than the three‑minute window Inter Milan required to level the score in the previous weekend’s encounter.
The goal, struck from the right side of the pitch, mirrored a similar pattern seen in the Inter match, where Benjamin Pavard capitalised on space created on City’s right flank. This recurring vulnerability on the right side will undoubtedly be a focal point for Maresma as he refines his system.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who kept a clean sheet for most of the match, was left disappointed by the conceded goal, which found the near post after a precise cut‑back from Kim. Aside from that moment, Donnarumma’s involvement was limited, but he will have the opportunity to sharpen his reflexes in the forthcoming pre‑season clash against Atletico Madrid, scheduled for Sunday at 12 pm UK time.
Beyond the immediate result, the match offered a glimpse into how Maresma plans to integrate new signings and existing talents. The arrival of Elliot Anderson for a reported £116 million, although he missed the Asian tour due to World Cup duties with England, signals City’s intent to deepen the midfield pool. Anderson’s presence will intensify competition for places, particularly for Reijnders, who must continue to showcase his dynamic runs and creative passing to secure a regular berth.
Moreover, the performance of younger players such as Divin Mubama, who also found the net, suggests that Maresma is comfortable rotating his squad and trusting emerging prospects in high‑profile fixtures. In summary, Maresma’s first win in charge was not merely a statistical success but a statement of intent. By deploying a flexible back‑four, encouraging full‑backs to contribute to midfield overloads, and granting creative freedom to his attacking players, he demonstrated a clear departure from the rigid structures associated with his predecessor. The early goals, the swift response from the opposition, and the tactical nuances observed throughout the game provide a rich repository of data for the coaching staff to analyse ahead of the next pre‑season test.
If City can address the right‑side defensive lapses and continue to nurture the form of players like Reijnders and Semenyo, they will be well‑positioned to challenge for honors in the upcoming campaign.