Enzo Maresca has made a strong start to his tenure as Manchester City manager, securing eight wins in his first 10 matches. A notable aspect of his early reign has been his tactical flexibility, with four of these victories significantly influenced by his use of substitutes.
In City's recent 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Maresca made three half-time changes after his initial midfield setup proved too open. These adjustments included introducing Ayyoub Bouaddi, which provided more stability in midfield, and Iliman Ndiaye on the left wing, whose cross led to Erling Haaland's first goal. Captain Ruben Dias was also substituted at half-time.
Maresca's ability to change a game has been evident in several instances. His Premier League debut against Bournemouth saw a defeat turn into a victory following the introduction of Rayan Cherki. Similarly, against Manchester United, Iliman Ndiaye's arrival after Phil Foden's dismissal helped City's 10 men maintain possession. At Anfield, Jeremy Doku's early introduction played a part in all three City goals, including scoring one.