Sports

Maresca Admits Man City Are Work In Progress After Comeback Win [Premier League Matchday 1 Results]

Published August 24, 2026 at 7:23 AM

Enzo Maresca leads Manchester City bench to celebrate their Premier League win over Bournemouth on Sunday, August 23.

Key Takeaways

Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca, said City are still a work in progress after a late two-one Premier League comeback win over Bournemouth.
Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol scored late at the Etihad on Sunday, August 23, after Maresca deployed centre-back Guehi in midfield.
Maresca said four or five starters like Haaland, Guehi, Anderson and O’Reilly returned to training about ten days ago, while Fulham vs Chelsea is 8pm Monday, August 24.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has admitted that his side remain a work in progress despite opening their Premier League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Bournemouth.

Late goals from Marc Guéhi and Joško Gvardiol rescued City after Bournemouth had put the hosts under pressure at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, August 23. The result secured three points for Maresca’s men, but the manager believes his squad still have plenty to improve.

Maresca said the win did not change his assessment of the team following their Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, insisting that City are still searching for the right solutions.

“To be honest, I feel in the same position we were after Arsenal (in the Community Shield),” Maresca told the club’s website.

“It’s normal that you judge because of results but I don’t see a big difference from one week ago to today.

“This is a work in progress, that’s why I am looking for new solutions like Marc Guehi as a midfielder, different things. Now we need solutions, we need to prepare the team.”

The City boss tested one of those solutions by deploying centre-back Guéhi in midfield as he continues to experiment with his options.

Maresca also explained that several key members of his starting XI only returned to training around 10 days before the Bournemouth game, leaving them behind other Premier League players in terms of physical preparation.

“Unfortunately we still have four or five players (in the starting 11) that are in pre-season, Haaland, Guehi, Anderson, O’Reilly,” he added.

“They arrived ten days ago. I think all of Bournemouth’s players started at the beginning of pre-season, so it’s a huge difference in terms of physicality but we are going to be better and better.”

Premier League Matchday 1 Complete Results

Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City
Hull City 2-0 Manchester United
Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland
Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leeds United
Brentford 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth
Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle United 2-2 Liverpool

Pending fixture:
Fulham vs Chelsea, Monday, August 24, 8pm

Author:

Ernest Victor

Victor Ernest Osong is a passionate communicator, teacher, poet, well-trained journalist, creative strategist, purpose-driven storyteller, and realist. With a strong foundation in writing, editing, content development, and leadership, he specializes in shaping narratives that inform, inspire, and ignite action. Email: [email protected]