Manchester City managed to scrape past a nerve‑wracking encounter in Enzo Maresma’s very first Premier League match at the helm, overturning a deficit to secure a dramatic 2-1 win against Bournemouth in the closing stages. The Italian coach’s debut in charge of the Citizens came after a dismal start to his tenure, having been outclassed by Arsenal in the Community Shield. Yet, when it mattered most, Maresma steadied the ship and guided his side to a hard‑earned, albeit uneasy, opening league triumph. City created numerous opportunities that could have made the afternoon far less stressful, but a combination of wastefulness and a degree of tactical disarray saw them struggle to impose their usual dominance.
The manager opted for an experimental line‑up, even slotting Marc Guehi into a central‑midfield role, a position the defender does not normally occupy. Guehi, alongside fellow defender Josko Gvardiol, would later find themselves on the scoresheet, rescuing the result after City spent the majority of the game on the back foot. "Unfortunately, this is a work in progress," Maresma admitted in the post‑match interview. Bournemouth took the initiative early on, with Marcus Tavernier delivering a superb first‑half strike that gave the visitors the lead.
The Cherries displayed the same cleverness and intensity they had shown under former boss Andoni Iraola, catching the hosts off‑guard. Marco Rose, making his Premier League debut as Bournemouth manager, seemed poised to orchestrate a perfect away day. However, City rallied, and a late surge – highlighted by a missed chance from Erling Haaland, who appeared with a fresh buzz cut – set the stage for a comeback.
The starting XI fielded by City was the youngest line‑up they had deployed for an opening Premier League fixture since the 2008‑09 season under Mark Hughes, underscoring the experimental nature of Maresma’s approach. The turning point arrived after the 84th minute.
A corner taken by substitute Rayan Cherki found Marc Guehi unmarked in the box, and his header restored parity for the home side. Just moments later, Cherki’s clever pass slipped through to Josko Gvardiol, who calmly slotted the ball home.
Although the on‑field officials initially flagged the goal for off‑side, VAR intervened and awarded the winner, cementing a remarkable comeback. Cherki’s influence was lauded by Maresma, who described his impact as "unbelievable". Since the start of the previous season, Cherki has recorded more open‑play assists in the Premier League than any other player, with twelve to his name, a statistic that highlights his creative importance to the squad. While City’s performance left much to be desired, the three points were vital.
It marked the first occasion since the final day of their title‑winning 2011‑12 campaign that the team had trailed in a home league match they ultimately won, perhaps a lucky omen for the new regime. Key moments of the match included: - 13th minute: Haaland missed a clear chance after a surging run by O'Reilly. - 15th minute: A spectacular save from Donnarumma denied Cherki at the near post. - 26th minute: Bournemouth’s opening goal, a well‑crafted team move finished by Tavernier after a low cross from Evanilson.
- 39th minute: Haaland was again thwarted, this time by a headed clearance from Petrovic. - 52nd minute: Guehi headed Foden’s corner wide from close range. - 75th minute: Guehi delivered a byline cross for Haaland, who mis‑hit his attempt.
- 84th minute: Cherki’s corner was headed home by Guehi, leveling the score. - 90+1 minute: Gvardiol’s late strike was initially ruled off‑side. - 90+2 minute: VAR reversed the decision, confirming Gvardiol’s winner. Maresma reflected on Guehi’s unconventional midfield deployment, saying, "In this moment, it's a matter to find solutions.
I know Marc from Palace and always thought he could be a good midfielder. Sometimes you visualise things and you need to try.
Overall, it was a good performance from him. He gives us a solution for the future." He also praised the warm reception from the Etihad crowd, noting, "It was the perfect day. I was very pleased to see the banner at the start and to give the fans the joy of three points. I was quite emotional." Addressing the contrast with the recent Arsenal defeat, Maresma observed, "I feel we are in the same position as after Arsenal.
Most of the time people judge by results, but I don’t see a huge difference between a week ago and today. Unfortunately, this is a work in progress. That's why I'm looking for solutions.
We need to prepare the team for the season, but winning helps the environment, the team and the fans. We are happier today." Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, despite the loss, remained optimistic: "We are competitors. We came here to win.
We did many good things. In the end, the way the game finished was unlucky for us. We had two situations – a corner and a moment where we were too passive. A game is 90 minutes, not 80, and we need to defend better.
We found the right triggers for long periods, and we can build on this. The plan was good; we just struggled in the final minutes.
The game is never over until the final whistle." Overall, the match served as a sobering reminder that even a squad of world‑class talent can stumble when experimenting with new roles and tactics. Yet, the resilience shown by City in overturning a deficit, aided by the decisive contributions of Guehi, Gvardiol and the creative spark of Cherki, provides a hopeful foundation for Maresma’s tenure as the new manager of one of England’s biggest clubs.