Key Takeaways:
- Manchester City will host Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon as they open their Premier League campaign under Enzo Maresca
- Jeremy Doku is likely to miss two to three weeks due to a calf problem sustained in City’s previous outing
- Both, Savinho and Omar Marmoush, are expected to join Tottenham
Match Preview: Maresca’s Debut and the Challenge of Bournemouth
Manchester City are set to embark on a new era as Enzo Maresca takes charge of his first competitive match at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon against Bournemouth. The fixture marks City’s return to Premier League action after finishing last season without the title and suffering a disappointing defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield. This match also heralds the beginning of life after both former manager Pep Guardiola and World Cup winner Rodri.
Maresca spoke at his pre-match press conference about his side’s preparations, highlighting observations from Bournemouth’s recent matches and previous campaign. He described Bournemouth as “a very aggressive team,” noting continuity from Andoni Iraola’s tenure and emphasising their distinct style of play both in and out of possession.
🚨 Enzo Maresca: “It’s 10 days to go until the transfer window shuts and many things can happen…”.
“I hope we can do what we plan to do”. pic.twitter.com/ouo3zlmXjw
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2026
Injury and Squad News: Doku Sidelined
On the availability front, Jeremy Doku’s calf issue will keep him out of action for an estimated two to three weeks. According to Maresca, Doku reported discomfort at half-time in the last fixture, leading to a scheduled substitution after 45 minutes to avoid further risk.
Transfer Developments: Unrest in the City Squad
Maresca addressed speculation regarding outgoing and incoming players. The manager confirmed that Savinho has sought a move away from City “since day one,” presenting difficulties for both club and player as they await further developments. The manager stated, “It’s quite clear that when players want to leave, for any reason, then it’s complicated to convince them to stay or change their thoughts.” Maresca linked Savinho’s motivation to the pursuit of fresh challenges, more game time, or a possible return to Spain.
In contrast, Maresca clarified that Omar Marmoush has not made a request to leave, specifying that “Omar has not asked to leave since day one” and reiterated that Marmoush had not revised his stance this week.
Rumours: Potential Midfield Reinforcements
Amid continued speculation regarding Manchester City’s midfield reshuffle, Maresca responded to reports linking the club with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez as a possible replacement for Rodri. The head coach remarked, “Enzo is a Chelsea player, and I’m not going to talk about players that are not with us. First of all, because I think it’s a lack of respect, and second because I don’t like when different managers talk about our players.”
