Enzo Maresca openly admitted that Manchester City’s 2-0 triumph over Porto in Tuesday’s Champions League tie was not without its flaws. The team’s uneven display prompted former England striker Alan Shearer, who was providing co-commentary on Prime Video, to label the performance as "weak." City eventually secured their lead late in the match, but they never truly seemed in danger of losing it.
Statistically, Porto were reduced to a handful of half‑chances and failed to register a single shot on target. For a side that had never before been beaten at the Estádio do Dragão in the entire 2026 season, the Portuguese outfit could muster only sporadic, low‑intensity attempts. The reason for Porto’s impotence lay in City’s exceptionally balanced midfield, which dictated the tempo and denied the visitors any meaningful possession. It is tempting to compare Maresca’s side with the earlier Guardiola‑era teams that revolved around Rodri’s precise, almost mechanical passing.
Those squads moved as a single organism, each pass landing in an exact, pre‑determined spot, leaving little room for criticism. Yet that era is now behind us, and the current project is evolving at its own pace. Maresca has repeatedly stressed that his philosophy will be introduced "slowly, slowly," aware that many fans expected a dramatic shift in power after Guardiola’s exit.
The expectation that the manager’s departure would instantly tilt the balance in Manchester’s favour may prove misguided. Beyond the headline result, the victory in Portugal offers several encouraging signs that City are building something sustainable. Winning away in the Champions League is always valuable, but doing so while keeping a clean sheet adds an extra layer of confidence.
Perhaps the most noteworthy individual story from the night was the emergence of teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. While Erling Haaland’s two goals naturally attracted the headlines, Bouaddi’s performance was arguably the bigger surprise. After the match, Haaland himself praised the youngster, telling chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak that the club had discovered a "gem" in Bouaddi and noting his impressive displays in training. The £86 million summer acquisition from Lille exudes a quiet confidence that is rare for a player still in his teens.
He is neither arrogant nor flamboyant; instead, he remains calm, composed, and remarkably mature on the ball. In his first start for City, Bouaddi displayed many of the qualities that made Rodri indispensable: composure under pressure, intelligent movement, and an ability to dictate play.
Maresca, speaking on Prime Video, described Bouaddi’s performance as "unbelievable" and highlighted his lack of panic throughout the game. The youngster’s technical confidence was evident in his dribbles, feints, and the subtle changes of direction that kept opponents guessing. His passing tempo was controlled, and his teammates trusted him enough to hand him the ball even when pressed tightly.
Rayan Cherki, for instance, repeatedly used Bouaddi as a pivot to recycle possession. Statistically, Bouaddi’s passing accuracy against Porto reached an astonishing 98%, edging out Rodri’s 96% in a 5‑1 Barcelona win over Feyenoord just a day later. While this sample size is too small to draw definitive conclusions, it does suggest that the new midfield talent can at least match the precision of the previous standard‑bearer. The label "baby Rodri" once haunted Nico Gonzalez at City, creating unrealistic expectations and added pressure.
It is important not to burden Bouaddi with the same tag; instead, the club should view him as part of a broader midfield overhaul capable of compensating for the loss of a player many believed irreplaceable. Rodri remains a unique talent, especially after his ACL injury in 2024 limited his availability in the latter stages of his City career. However, with Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández now forming a trio of promising midfielders, Maresca has a diversified set of options. Anderson, who came off the bench against Porto, posted possession statistics that rivaled Rodri’s, a reflection of his outstanding season with Nottingham Forest where he outperformed the veteran across most metrics.
His composure, both on and off the ball, makes him a reliable anchor for the side. While Anderson offers a safer, more experienced hand, the 18‑year‑old Bouaddi will benefit enormously from training alongside him. Fernández adds another dimension to the mix. Capable of operating as a deep‑lying playmaker or pushing into a more advanced No 10 role, he brings a goal‑threat that City’s midfield lacked for years.
His style echoes the late Ilkay Gündogan under Pep, combining work rate with creative flair. Collectively, the three midfielders cover a spectrum of profiles: Bouaddi naturally fits the No 6 holding role, while Anderson and Fernández are more akin to No 8 box‑to‑box players. Yet all three possess the mobility to interchange positions, providing Maresca with tactical flexibility that money alone cannot buy.
The £326 million spent on these players guarantees individual quality, but true success depends on how quickly they gel as a unit. So far, the early signs are promising. The next major test arrives this weekend at Old Trafford, where City will face Manchester United. Both clubs have overhauled their midfield structures, and the encounter will likely be decided by which side can impose its rhythm and dominate the central areas.
Maresca is expected to start Anderson in the holding position, with Fernández slightly ahead, while Bouaddi may either start or provide an impact off the bench. In summary, the latest midfield revamp demonstrates that City possess depth and versatility beyond Rodri’s singular presence. While the young talents still need time to develop chemistry, their individual attributes—technical skill, composure, and tactical intelligence—suggest that the club can maintain its dominance even without the Spanish anchor.
The future looks bright for a midfield that, in time, could embody every quality once associated solely with Rodri.