Man City 2026-27 season preview: Enzo Maresca has uphill battle ahead & Erling Haaland under more pressure than ever to deliver

There is widespread concern among City fans that the squad looks weaker now than it did at the end of last season. That is reflected by the latest odds, with Arsenal the overwhelming favourites to retain the Premier League crown and City now playing the role of hunters or, dare we say, even underdogs.

Many are also unsure whether Maresca has the pedigree to fill Guardiola's shoes. The Italian impressed in the Championship at Leicester, and subsequently delivered trophies at Chelsea, but his stint at Stamford Bridge ended in acrimonious fashion. Certainly from an experience standpoint, Maresca doesn't match up to Guardiola.

No one is expecting instant dominance, but the supporters who question Maresca's credentials will be on his back quickly if City get off to a bad start. Patience is a luxury that won't be on offer at the Etihad Stadium as Maresca bids to stamp his own unique mark.

Despite that, though, the mood around the ground is mostly one of cautious optimism. Arsenal aside, City's main rivals look short of quality in key areas, and there is a belief that they will push the Gunners closest again.

As it stands, Elliot Anderson is the only major signing City have made this summer, with the former Nottingham Forest man arriving at the Etihad for a club-record fee of £116 million ($157m). However, it is expected that 18-year-old sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi will soon complete an £85m ($115m) switch from Lille, and City are also being tipped to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea before the summer window slams shut.

If Maresca does get those two extra midfield signings, City will, on paper at least, be covered after 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri sealed his £65m ($88m) move to Barcelona. Replacing Rodri's overall influence is almost impossible, though. City have also waved goodbye to club legends Bernardo Silva and John Stones, along with Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, but the loss of Rodri will sting the most.

City have welcomed four other players to the Etihad, including teenage duo Jeremy Monga and Mathys Detourbet, though the latter has been sent straight out on loan to Monaco. Geronimo Rulli has arrived from Marseille to serve as No.2 behind Gianluigi Donnarumma, with James Trafford opting to join Leeds in a £40m ($54m) deal. City have also added Pierce Charles to their goalkeeping ranks, but he will be spending the season on loan at QPR.

Meanwhile, Tijjani Reijnders has joined Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, and more outgoings are expected, with Tottenham eyeing up both Savinho and Omar Marmoush. Jack Grealish, meanwhile, has also been linked with an exit, though no concrete offers have been tabled as yet.

City lost their opening pre-season game against Inter on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw in normal time, but won their next two games against the K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid - both by a scoreline of 3-1. The Atletico game was especially encouraging, with Antoine Semenyo delivering two assists for Omar Marmoush in a strong attacking display.

Divin Mubama and Rayan Ait-Nouri also impressed on tour with two goals each, (though the former has since been loaned to Southampton), while Phil Foden looked somewhere close to his creative best again after a long summer holiday. However, most of City's good work as a collective was undone in the Community Shield against Arsenal.

City were thrashed 3-0 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium last weekend, and it could have been even worse given how many chances the Gunners created. Arsenal bossed the midfield and City looked extremely vulnerable defensively, with Donnarumma also enduring an afternoon to forget between the sticks.

"We have many things to work [on]," Maresca admitted after the game. "The season's just started, so there are many things we need to do better." However, he also correctly pointed out that City had more players at the World Cup than any other Premier League side, so an element of rust was understandable.

The popular opinion is that City went for Maresca to succeed Guardiola because they share the same footballing principles. "Enzo's the spit of Pep," Jamie Vardy has said via ESPN of the ex-Leicester boss, who he worked with at the King Power Stadium in 2023-24. "It's literally exactly the same style of play. It's like having a clone."

Vardy was proven right in pre-season, as Maresca has made sure that City continue to prioritise dominance of the ball with the players sticking to very specific roles. However, it is not quite accurate to call Maresca a Guardiola "clone".

The Italian wants his wingers to stay high and wide to stretch defences, a far cry from the more narrow approach Guardiola took last season. The likes of Semenyo and Jeremy Doku are expected to attack their markers and look for cut-backs deep in enemy territory, and when the opposition doubles up on them, more space opens up in the centre of the pitch. This approach has given Foden an instant lift, and Rayan Cherki should also benefit once he is back to full fitness, with the France international likely to be first choice in the No.10 slot.

Out of possession, City have been defending zonally, which backfired massively against Arsenal, but it should become more natural and effective with time. Maresca's pre-existing relationship with a large portion of the City dressing room will help with that, and keep any other teething problems to a minimum.

It would be absolutely insane for anyone to write off City while they still boast the single most deadly weapon in European football: Erling Haaland. The 26-year-old striker was very quiet in the Community Shield, but that's because he was one of the last men back from a post-World Cup holiday, which he sorely needed after scoring seven goals during Norway's run to the quarter-finals.

There is more pressure on his shoulders than ever as City enter an uncertain new era, but the real Haaland will step forward again when the real action begins. Indeed, the former Borussia Dortmund man has hit six or more goals in the first five games of the Premier League campaign in each of his four years at City, and another rapid start would give Maresca some vital breathing space.

He's also chasing a fourth Golden Boot, which would see him equal Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah in the Premier League history books. Guardiola was his mentor, but Haaland's hunger for goals won't suddenly diminish without him. He'll keep doing what he does best, and perhaps at a more prolific rate than ever with Maresca favouring the width that will increase service to the ruthless Norwegian.

Ryan McAidoo made his senior debut for City last season, and marked the occasion with a goal in a thumping 10-1 victory over Exeter in the FA Cup. The 18-year-old also registered 25 goal involvements across all youth competitions in 2025-26, and played 91 minutes in City's FA Youth Cup final win over Man Utd.

Maresca drafted the youngster into his squad for the pre-season clash with Inter in Hong Kong, and threw him in as a half-time substitute. Operating from the right-flank, McAidoo proceeded to terrorise the Inter backline at every opportunity, showing off his blistering speed and dazzling footwork.

The England U18 international, who joined City from Chelsea two years ago, came agonisingly close to firing the winning goal in normal time, too, clipping a shot against the post after a brilliant run. Unfortunately, McAidoo was subsequently laid low with a shoulder injury that kept him out of City's remaining pre-season games, but Maresca had seen enough.

"One of the surprises has been Ryan McAidoo, that no one expected," said the City boss. "I think for him the best thing is to stay with us, to learn, be around the first-team everyday, try to learn from Antoine [Semenyo], from Jeremy [Doku], in terms of attitude, how to work hard."

Maresca added: "He is that kind of winger I love. Very aggressive one v one, always trying, making the right decision." It's safe to say we will see a lot more of McAidoo in the coming months; he's too good to remain in the shadows at City any longer.

Winning the Premier League and/or Champions League was the aim for City under Guardiola every single year, but Maresca is fighting a serious uphill battle to even get near those two trophies. City have lost too many key players and don't have the strength in depth to knock Arsenal off their perch, or outgun the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid in Europe.

City do, though, have enough to finish second in the Premier League again. If Maresca achieves that, and the team shows genuine signs of progress, that would constitute an acceptable season. Throw in a successful defence of either the two domestic cups, and City could upgrade it to a successful one.

Expectations have to be slightly lower because moving on from Guardiola won't be an overnight process. His ideas and personality helped shape the club, and there will be an adjustment period as everyone gets used to a new 'normal' with Maresca at the helm.

The 46-year-old tactician will only see his job come under threat if there is a massive fall-off, and City don't learn from the mistakes they made in the Community Shield. Further bumps in the road are inevitable, but City should still be a formidable force.

Player of the Season: Rayan Cherki. The Frenchman enjoyed a stellar debut year at City, and he'll be the leading man now he's fully settled in, possessing the magic to unlock any defence and the fearlessness to thrive in the biggest matches.

Biggest disappointment: Elliot Anderson. The England international won't be able to justify his ridiculous fee, or fill the Rodri-shaped void in the team.

Best signing: Ayyoub Bouaddi. City are getting a special player who can dictate games and break up play at will, with the maturity to make the transition from Ligue 1 to the Premier League look seamless.

Top scorer: Erling Haaland. An unstoppable terminator capable of deciding games in any moment. Guaranteed to score 20-plus goals as usual.

European performance: Round of 16. City will face a tough knockout stage draw after being forced to go through the playoffs, and will be outclassed in the same way they were last year.

League position: Second. Still the best of the rest after Arsenal. There is too much world-class experience in Maresca's ranks for a major decline.