Enzo Maresca openly admitted that his side "complicated" the 2-0 victory over Porto in Tuesday’s Champions League tie. The uneven rhythm of the display prompted former England striker Alan Shearer, who was co‑commentating on Prime Video, to brand the performance as "weak". City eventually saw the game out, sealing the win late on, but they never looked truly threatened. Statistically, Porto were reduced to a handful of half‑chances and failed to produce a single shot on target.
For a team that had not lost at the Estádio do Dragão at any point in 2026, the Portuguese side struggled to generate any clear‑cut opportunities. The secret weapon behind that defensive solidity was Manchester City’s exceptionally well‑balanced midfield. It is tempting to compare Maresca’s current side with the squads of the past, when the midfield seemed to orbit around Rodri in a textbook Pep Guardiola system. Back then, the ball moved with surgical precision, every pass finding its intended destination, making criticism almost impossible.
Those days, however, appear to be behind us. There is no urgency for Maresca to rush his philosophy into place. "Slowly, slowly," he reminded viewers on Tuesday, fully aware that many pundits expected Guardiola’s exit to tilt the power balance in Manchester.
Those expectations may well prove misguided. Beyond the headline result, the win in Portugal offered several encouraging signs that City are evolving in a positive direction.
Securing an away victory in Europe, especially while keeping a clean sheet, is never a trivial achievement. One of the most compelling stories from the match was the debut of teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. While Erling Haaland’s brace deserved its usual praise, the frequency of his goals this season means that other noteworthy contributions can sometimes be overlooked.
Bouaddi’s impact, however, was impossible to ignore. Haaland himself highlighted Bouaddi’s influence in a post‑match interview, telling chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, "We have a gem there. He played a fantastic game and has been outstanding in training." The £86 million summer acquisition from Lille brings a rare blend of confidence and composure for a player still in his teenage years. He is not arrogant or flamboyant; instead, he displays a calm, measured demeanor that belies his age.
In his first start for City, he exhibited many of the traits traditionally associated with Rodri. Maresca praised him on Prime Video, saying, "He never panicked – his performance was unbelievable." Bouaddi’s self‑belief is evident in his technical execution. He employed subtle shimmies and feints to change direction while in possession, showing a high level of ball control.
His passing tempo is deliberate, and he has already earned the trust of his teammates, who were comfortable handing him the ball under pressure. Rayan Cherki, for instance, used Bouaddi as a reliable outlet throughout the night. Perhaps the most striking statistic is his passing accuracy.
While Rodri posted a 96 % pass completion rate in Barcelona’s 5‑1 win over Feyenoord a day later, Bouaddi achieved a 98 % success rate against Porto. Though the sample size is small, it suggests that the youngster can match, if not exceed, the precision of his predecessor. Labeling him "Baby Rodri" would be unhelpful – a nickname that once weighed down Nico González at the club.
Such comparisons set unrealistic expectations and can become a self‑fulfilling prophecy of failure. What matters is that City’s new midfield unit appears capable of compensating for the loss of a player many thought irreplaceable. Rodri remains a unique talent, even after the ACL injury that limited his availability in his final seasons at City. Yet with Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernández, Maresca now has a trio of midfielders who can share the workload.
Anderson, who impressed with possession metrics comparable to Rodri’s, has already demonstrated his quality. After a strong season with Nottingham Forest, he outperformed the veteran across most statistical categories and now provides a stabilising presence in City’s midfield. Adding Enzo Fernández to the mix gives the team a blend of creativity and tenacity.
Fernández can operate as a deep‑lying playmaker, a box‑to‑box engine, or even an advanced midfielder, offering a versatility reminiscent of Ilkay Gündoğan’s role under Guardiola – a role that has been difficult to replicate since. Collectively, the three midfielders cover a spectrum of profiles: Bouaddi naturally fits the No 6 (defensive midfielder) role, while Anderson and Fernández are more suited to the No 8 (box‑to‑box) position.
Yet all three possess the mobility to shift between these duties, providing Maresca with tactical flexibility. Financially, the £326 million spent on these players reflects a willingness to acquire top‑class talent, but money alone does not guarantee instant success.
The chemistry between players often requires time to develop, though City seem to be accelerating that process. The next major test arrives at Old Trafford, where City will face Manchester United in a heated rivalry. Both sides will rely heavily on their revamped midfield cores to dominate the centre of the park. It is likely Maresca will slot Anderson into the holding role, with Fernández positioned slightly ahead, while Bouaddi could either start or provide an impact off the bench.
Regardless of the exact lineup, the emergence of Bouaddi as a genuine prospect adds excitement to the squad’s future. If he continues to grow, he could eventually embody every quality a modern midfielder needs – defensive discipline, passing precision, tactical intelligence and the confidence to influence big games. In summary, Manchester City’s recent midfield overhaul suggests that the team may not be as dependent on Rodri as previously thought. The combination of seasoned talent and youthful exuberance offers a promising foundation for the club’s upcoming challenges, both domestically and in Europe.