Enzo Maresca openly admitted that Manchester City’s 2-0 triumph over Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday was not without its difficulties. 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". Despite the early hiccups, City eventually secured their lead and never truly looked in danger of losing it.
From a statistical viewpoint, Porto were reduced to a handful of half‑chances and failed to produce a single shot on target. For a side that had gone unbeaten at the Estádio do Dragão throughout the entire 2026 calendar year, the Portuguese outfit could not generate any clear‑cut opportunities. The backbone of that defensive solidity was City’s exceptionally balanced midfield, which kept the opposition at bay.
The temptation, of course, is to compare Maresca’s side with the Guardiola‑era teams that revolved around Rodri, where every pass seemed pre‑ordained and the game flowed like a well‑rehearsed symphony. Those past displays were so tidy that criticism was hard to find.
Yet that era appears to be receding into memory. There is no urgency for Maresca to rush the implementation of his own philosophy. "Slowly, slowly," he reminded viewers on Tuesday, fully aware that many expected Pep Guardiola’s departure to tilt the balance of power in Manchester.
Those expectations may well be tempered by the reality of what the new midfield can achieve. Beyond the headline result, the victory in Portugal offered several encouraging signs that City are progressing. Winning away in the Champions League is never a trivial feat, and doing so while keeping a clean sheet adds an extra layer of confidence.
One individual performance that stood out was that of teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. While Erling Haaland’s two goals naturally attracted the usual post‑match praise, Bouaddi’s contribution was arguably the most significant breakthrough of the evening.
Haaland himself even highlighted Bouaddi’s impact, telling chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak that the club had uncovered a "gem" in the young Frenchman. The £86 million summer acquisition from Lille exudes a quiet self‑belief that is rare for a player still in his teens. He is not arrogant or flamboyant; instead, he displays a calm, measured composure that reminded many observers of Rodri’s style of play. In his first start for City, Bouaddi demonstrated a mature understanding of space, positioning, and ball retention that belied his age.
"He never panicked," Maresca remarked on Prime Video, adding that Bouaddi’s performance was "unbelievable". The youngster’s confidence in his own technical abilities was evident in the way he used subtle shimmies and feints to change direction while in possession.
His passing tempo was controlled, and his teammates seemed comfortable handing him the ball under pressure. Rayan Cherki, for instance, repeatedly used Bouaddi as a pivot throughout the match. Perhaps the most striking statistic was Bouaddi’s passing accuracy: a staggering 98 percent against Porto, surpassing the 96 percent Rodri posted in Barcelona’s 5‑1 win over Feyenoord just a day later. While the sample size is tiny, it suggests that the young midfielder can handle the precision required in a top‑level midfield role.
Labeling him "Baby Rodri" would be unfair and potentially harmful – a tag that once weighed down Nico Gonzalez during his stint at the club. Instead, City’s new midfield composition appears capable of compensating for the loss of a player many thought irreplaceable. Rodri remains a unique talent, but his recent injury history, including an ACL tear in 2024, has limited his ability to feature in three‑day‑a‑week rotations.
In contrast, Maresca now has a trio of promising midfielders – Bouaddi, Elliot Anderson, and Enzo Fernández – who can share the workload. Anderson, who came off the bench against Porto, posted possession metrics that rivalled Rodri’s, a reflection of his strong season with Nottingham Forest where he outperformed the veteran in several key areas.
He acts as the hinge of Maresca’s midfield, providing stability and a calm presence both on and off the ball. Adding Enzo Fernández to the mix brings a blend of skill and tenacity. Fernández is not a metronomic player; rather, he offers versatility, capable of operating as a traditional No 8, slipping into a more advanced No 10 role, and even contributing a goal threat that has been missing from City’s midfield since the departure of Ilkay Gündoğan. His ability to link play and arrive late in the box mirrors the function Gündoğan performed under Guardiola, a role that has been difficult to fill since his exit.
Collectively, the three midfielders cover a spectrum of profiles. Bouaddi naturally fits the No 6 holding role, while Anderson and Fernández are more inclined towards the box‑to‑box No 8 responsibilities. Yet all three possess the mobility and dynamism to interchange positions as the tactical system demands.
This flexibility is a valuable asset for a manager seeking positional fluidity. Financially, the £326 million spent on these acquisitions reflects City’s willingness to secure top‑class talent. Anderson’s Premier League experience makes him a safer option than the 18‑year‑old Bouaddi, but the younger player will undoubtedly benefit from training alongside the seasoned midfielder.
The true test of this revamped midfield will arrive at Old Trafford, where City face Manchester United in a high‑stakes derby. Both sides will rely heavily on their newly restructured middle‑of‑the‑park units to dominate possession and dictate the tempo. It is likely that Maresca will deploy Anderson in a deeper holding role, with Fernández positioned just ahead, while Bouaddi may either start or provide impact off the bench. In summary, Manchester City’s recent overhaul of their midfield suggests that the club may no longer be dependent on Rodri as the sole anchor.
The combination of Bouaddi’s emerging poise, Anderson’s proven consistency, and Fernández’s creative spark offers a promising foundation for the future. While the hefty transfer outlay guarantees individual quality, the chemistry among these players will determine whether City can sustain their dominance on both domestic and European fronts. The upcoming clash with United will provide an early indicator of how quickly this new midfield can gel and whether it can truly replace the influence of a player once deemed irreplaceable.