For almost a decade, Pep Guardiola defined what it meant to be a winger at Manchester City. The Catalan tactician often preferred “pausa”—the ability to slow the game down, dictate the tempo, and recycle possession. Players like Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez were instructed to keep the ball glued to their feet, drawing opponents out before finding the killer pass, while the likes of Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden provided the ruthless finishing in the box. Under Guardiola, City collected Premier League titles with terrifying consistency, suffocating teams with endless control. However, as the Guardiola era came to a close, it became evident that the Premier League was shifting towards a more transition-heavy, athletic style. The structural control remains in City’s DNA, but the profile of their wide men has drastically changed to match the demands of modern English football. Now it’s time to see what Enzo Maresca brings to Etihad…

The New Trident Reshaping the Etihad

Moving away from the rigid predictability of maintaining possession at all costs, City’s frontline is now built around a dynamic, interchangeable attacking trident: Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, and new arrival Iliman Ndiaye. This trio represents a major philosophical shift toward raw pace, relentless pressing, and fluid positional rotation. Instead of relying on wingers whose primary job is to recycle the ball back to the midfield orchestrators, City’s attack now thrives on unpredictable wide play and aggressive ball-carrying. Blending natural flair with tactical discipline, the synergy between these three players offers a fresh offensive dimension that is already proving to be a nightmare for opposition defenders.

Antoine Semenyo: Ready to Claim the Crown?

When Antoine Semenyo arrived at the Etihad at the beginning of 2026, he immediately injected a much-needed sense of verticality and directness into the squad. His first half-season was a massive success, changing the dynamic of how City approached counter-attacks and 1v1 situations. Now entering his first full campaign in Manchester, the big question for Sofascore users and fantasy managers alike is whether Semenyo will become the undisputed main star on the wing. Known for his physical dominance, ability to win crucial ground duels, and a heatmap that shows immense work rate up and down the touchline, Semenyo is much more than just a wide outlet. If he can maintain his clinical edge when cutting inside, this 2026/27 season could be the year he elevates himself into the absolute elite bracket of Premier League superstars.

Jeremy Doku: The Ultimate Chaos Creator

While Semenyo is building his legacy, Jeremy Doku is already a proven quantity and remains one of the most electric one-on-one dribblers in world football. Serving as the ultimate chaotic element on the flanks, Doku’s low center of gravity and explosive acceleration mean he can dismantle a low block entirely on his own. During the Guardiola years, Doku was the wildcard—the player brought on to inject a sudden burst of tempo when the possession game became stagnant. Now, his ability to carry the ball out of tight spaces and force opponents to double or triple-team him is a foundational piece of City’s tactical setup. His final product has steadily matured, making him not just a flashy dribbler, but a devastatingly effective creator in the final third.

Iliman Ndiaye: The Missing Puzzle Piece

The final piece of this newly formed puzzle arrived this summer in the form of Iliman Ndiaye, a versatile forward whose 2025/26 campaign at Everton perfectly showcased his readiness for a massive step up. During his final season on Merseyside, Ndiaye started 32 Premier League matches, contributing six goals and three assists in a system that often starved him of service. But for Sofascore analysts, his most impressive metric was off the ball: he registered a staggering, career-high 70 tackles. This elite defensive work rate makes him an absolute dream for a high-pressing system. His ability to drop deep, link play, and operate effectively in the half-spaces makes him the ideal connector who can seamlessly interchange with Doku and Semenyo, doing the dirty work while providing immense technical quality.

The Jack Grealish Paradox: Why ‘Pausa’ Was Loaned to Everton

To truly understand this tactical shift, one must look at Jack Grealish‘s departure on loan to Everton. Once the £100m poster boy of Guardiola’s system, Grealish thrived on slowing the game down and drawing fouls. However, Maresca’s blueprint relies on rapid transitions, aggressive pressing triggers, and immediate vertical threat. Grealish’s deliberate, possession-heavy style clashes directly with the chaotic energy of Doku and Semenyo. Loaning him to Everton highlights a ruthless tactical pivot: City no longer wants wingers who step on the ball to survey the pitch; they want forwards who instantly break defensive lines.

Enzo Maresca’s Vision for the 2026/27 Campaign

Overseeing this tactical revolution is Enzo Maresca, who has stepped into one of the most demanding jobs in world football to define Manchester City’s 2026/27 campaign. Maresca’s philosophy heavily emphasizes numerical superiority in central areas, but he relies on isolating his dynamic wingers to stretch the opposition. By deploying forwards like Semenyo, Doku, and Ndiaye—who can hold the width but also invert to overload the box—Maresca is building a hybrid system. He is honoring City’s deeply ingrained possession principles while injecting a more direct, aggressive edge that suits the profiles of his attackers. If this newly formed attacking trident fully clicks under Maresca’s guidance, Manchester City possesses the necessary firepower to dominate the league and execute their new manager’s vision with devastating efficiency.