Enzo Maresca celebrated his inaugural triumph as Manchester City manager with a convincing 3-1 win against the K-League All Stars on a bright Seoul evening. The match unfolded at a frenetic pace, delivering four goals within the first 23 minutes and allowing City to bounce back swiftly after the disappointment of a penalty shoot‑out defeat to Inter Milan the previous weekend. The scoring opened with Rayan Ait‑Nouri finding the net in the ninth minute, exploiting the width provided by his position on the left flank.
His early strike set the tone for a dominant City display that would see a total of three different scorers contribute to the tally. Tijjani Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder, added his name to the scoresheet, showcasing his knack for late runs from deep and his technical proficiency in the final third. Divin Mubama, a rising talent, completed the trio of goal‑makers, rounding off a first‑half onslaught that left the K‑League side scrambling. Maresca’s tactical blueprint for the encounter diverged sharply from the familiar patterns associated with his predecessor, Pep Guardiola.
While Guardiola often favoured a fluid, positional interchange, Maresca opted for a more structured approach that emphasized defensive solidity even when his side possessed the ball. Right‑back Rico Lewis, for instance, frequently slipped into a more central role during periods of possession, effectively bolstering the midfield partnership of Mateo Kovačić and Reijnders. This subtle shift meant that, in attacking phases, City often operated with a three‑man defensive line composed of Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and veteran centre‑back Ruben Dias, creating a compact shape that made it difficult for opponents to penetrate. The wingers, Ait‑Nouri and Antoine Semenyo, were instructed to stay high and wide, stretching the opposition and providing the width necessary for the full‑backs to tuck inside.
Semenyo, although he did not get on the scoresheet, delivered a performance that many observers described as the most influential of the evening. His relentless runs and incisive dribbling troubled the K‑League defence repeatedly.
He crafted a brilliant back‑heel assist for Reijnders, which culminated in a low‑driven finish that restored City’s lead after the hosts had briefly equalised. Phil Foden enjoyed a free‑roaming role in the number ten position, operating behind striker Christopher Muamba. Muamba, who has already found the net in consecutive pre‑season fixtures, added a second goal for City after the K‑League side managed to pull one back.
The rebound came from a shot by Semenyo that was parried, only to be tapped home by Muamba, underscoring the collaborative nature of City’s attacking play. The match also sparked speculation in the transfer market. Reports surfaced that Nottingham Forest were monitoring Reijnders with a potential £55 million bid. However, his display in Seoul—marked by incisive drives from deep and a keen eye for goal—should convince Maresca that the Dutch international remains a valuable asset for the upcoming season.
Reijnders will also face heightened competition in midfield following the club’s record‑breaking £116 million acquisition of Elliot Anderson, who missed the Asian tour due to his World Cup commitments with England. Nonetheless, performances like the one in Seoul could persuade the coaching staff to retain Reijnders rather than entertain a summer departure. Semenyo’s contribution, while not reflected in goals, was nevertheless pivotal. The Ghanaian international’s ability to destabilise the opposition’s back line, coupled with his creative assist for Reijnders and his involvement in the build‑up to Muamba’s rebound, earned him the accolade of City’s best player on the night.
He was substituted at halftime for Savinho, a change that did not replicate Semenyo’s impact, highlighting the depth of talent available to Maresca. The quick concession of an equaliser by the K‑League All Stars—arriving merely three minutes after Ait‑Nouri’s opener—mirrored the pattern seen in the previous week’s match against Inter, where City also allowed a rapid response after taking the lead.
This recurring defensive lapse is likely to be a focal point for Maresca as he fine‑tunes his side for the remainder of the pre‑season. Defensively, the goal conceded came from Dae‑Won Kim, who cut in from the left and finished at the near post, leaving goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with little chance to intervene.
Donnarumma’s involvement in the match was limited to this single save, but he will have to be prepared for a more demanding test when City face Atletico Madrid later this week at the same venue. Overall, Maresca’s first match in charge offered a glimpse into a potentially new tactical identity for Manchester City—one that balances defensive organization with the attacking flair that has become the club’s hallmark. The performances of Reijnders, Semenyo and the broader squad suggest that the team is adapting well to the new manager’s ideas, setting a promising tone for the upcoming season.