Enzo Maresca celebrated 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 frenetic pace, delivering all four goals within the first 23 minutes—a stark contrast to City’s recent disappointment in a penalty‑shootout defeat to Inter Milan. Maresca’s side fielded a total of 22 players throughout the encounter, showcasing a blend of established internationals and emerging talent. From the outset, Maresca made it clear that he does not intend to be a mere replica of Pep Guardiola.
In a statement last month he described himself as a "not a copy‑and‑paste" coach, eager to forge his own identity while building on the foundations laid by his predecessor. The tactical experiment in Seoul reflected that ambition, as City departed from their usual structure and adopted a more fluid, possession‑oriented shape. Right‑back Rico Lewis, traditionally a defensive stalwart, was instructed to tuck inside when City held the ball, effectively turning into an auxiliary midfielder. This movement allowed the central pairing of Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders to operate with greater freedom, while the defensive line condensed into a three‑man unit comprising Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and veteran centre‑back Ruben Dias.
The compact three‑back formation gave City a solid base from which to launch attacks, and the shift in Lewis’s role added an extra passing option in the middle third. On the flanks, Rayan Ait‑Nouri and Antoine Semenyo were deployed as high‑lying, wide attackers. Their advanced positioning paid immediate dividends: Ait‑Nouri, cutting in from the left, unleashed a precise strike in the ninth minute to give City the lead. The goal was the product of a well‑timed run and a clever back‑heel pass from Semenyo, whose creativity was on full display despite not finding the back of the net himself.
Phil Foden enjoyed a free‑roaming role just behind striker Mohamed Muamba, operating as the creative No 10. This freedom allowed him to drift between lines, link play and exploit pockets of space, while Muamba, who has already scored in consecutive pre‑season fixtures, provided a physical presence up front. The combination of Foden’s vision and Muamba’s finishing created constant threats that the K‑League side struggled to contain. Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder, proved instrumental in the early phases of the match.
His deep‑running drives and technical skill helped City dominate possession and generate scoring opportunities. After a superb assist from former AC Milan midfielder Maresca set up Ait‑Nouri’s opener, Reijnders himself doubled the lead with a low, well‑placed finish that followed a clever back‑heel pass from Semenyo. His performance has attracted interest from other clubs; reports suggest Nottingham Forest are eyeing a £55 million bid.
However, after this display in South Korea, City are likely to retain the 28‑year‑old, especially given the competition he faces in midfield from the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson, who missed the Asian tour due to World Cup duties with England. Semenyo, though not on the scoresheet, was arguably the most impactful player on the pitch.
The Ghana international terrorised the opposition defence with his pace, dribbling and intelligent movement. He crafted the assist for Reijnders’ goal and later forced a crucial save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, which rebounded to Muamba for the final tally. Semenyo was substituted at halftime for Savinho, but the replacement could not replicate his dynamism.
The Tottenham‑linked attacker had impressed after joining City in January and appears poised to reach new heights under Maresca’s guidance. The match also featured a quick response from the K‑League All Stars. Dae‑Woon Kim equalised just three minutes after Ait‑Nouri’s strike, a turnaround that mirrored the rapid equaliser Inter Milan produced against City a few days earlier. Both goals originated from attacks down City’s right flank, highlighting a potential vulnerability when the ball is played wide on that side.
Donnarumma, who made only a single save in Seoul, will need to be more alert in the upcoming pre‑season clash against Atletico Madrid, scheduled for this Sunday at 12 pm UK time. Overall, Maresca’s first outing as City manager demonstrated his willingness to experiment with player roles and formations.
By allowing full‑backs to invert, granting wingers freedom to cut inside, and giving the No 10 space to roam, he crafted a fluid system that produced early goals and showcased the squad’s depth. While the defensive lapse that led to the opponent’s equaliser will be a point of analysis, the attacking display—particularly the contributions of Reijnders and Semenyo—offers a promising glimpse of what the team could achieve this season under Maresca’s inventive leadership. The win not only marks a positive start for the new coach but also provides a platform for further tactical refinement as City continue their pre‑season preparations across Asia.