Enzo Maresca is officially taking the reins at Manchester City, ushering in a new era after Pep Guardiola’s decade, and his young squad has already seen a ton of player turnover over the last 18 months. Guardiola may have snagged the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in his final season, but the Premier League title slipped away. Now it’s Maresca’s turn to make his mark, and the preseason schedule is already throwing some curveballs.
East Asia Tour Kicks Off Maresca’s Era Amid Player Returns
City’s preparations for the 2026/27 season are kicking off with a three-match tour of East Asia, beginning Tuesday, July 28. First up on Saturday, August 1, they’ll face their 2023 Champions League final opponents, Inter Milan, in Hong Kong at Kai Tak Sports Park. Then it’s off to Seoul for two more clashes: a Wednesday, August 5 matchup against a K-League All Stars XI, and a Sunday, August 9 game versus Atletico Madrid, both at Sangam Stadium. The preseason wraps up on Sunday, August 16, with the Community Shield against Premier League champions Arsenal. That big game is happening at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, all thanks to a scheduling conflict with global pop superstar The Weeknd.
The World Cup effect is still lingering for Maresca’s crew. City had a whopping 17 players at the tournament, more than any other Premier League team. Good news is, everyone who bowed out in the group stage or the Round of 32 is back in training already. Portugal duo Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes, Belgium winger Jeremy Doku, and Egypt forward Omar Marmoush all exited in the Round of 16 and are expected to be back just in time for the East Asia tour. Players who went deep into the tournament, like Erling Haaland and record signing Elliot Anderson, are due back before the Community Shield.
World Cup Hero Rodri Out, Adding Early Pressure to Maresca
Here’s the real gut punch for Maresca’s early days: World Cup-winning captain and tournament player of the tournament, Rodri, will not be joining the team for preseason. The midfield maestro is undergoing back surgery in Spain. Rodri’s been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid too, so this whole situation just adds another layer to an already high-stakes transition for City. Losing a player of his caliber, especially one who anchored a World Cup winning team, for any part of preseason is a major blow and puts immediate pressure on Maresca to manage the squad depth.
Premier League Season Starts August 23 With Bournemouth
The real show begins for Manchester City on Sunday, August 23, when they host Bournemouth, another team under new management. That kickoff is set for 2 p.m. local time. The first month of the Premier League schedule looks pretty intense, too. After Bournemouth, City hits the road to face Crystal Palace on Friday, August 28, then they’re back home for Coventry City on Saturday, September 5. Things get spicy on Sunday, September 13, with the first Manchester derby of the season away against United at Old Trafford. They round out the pre-international break schedule at home against Sunderland on Saturday, September 19, before the league pauses on September 21. Maresca has got to hit the ground running, especially with Rodri sidelined. It is going to be a fascinating start to this new era.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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