Manchester City is facing mounting scrutiny over a persistent midfield problem that extends far beyond the capabilities of young Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi to solve on his own.
Manager Enzo Maresca has relied heavily on a regular midfield trio of Rayan Cherki, Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson for the majority of the season.
However, that particular combination has frequently left the team far too open and easy to play through during a difficult stretch of matches.
The tactical challenges facing the squad “is becoming clear as Maresca relies too heavily on Elliot Anderson”, according to Esteemed Kompany.
Bouaddi has been underutilised so far this season, logging just 439 minutes across 10 appearances for Manchester City.
The young talent is widely regarded as the best number six in the squad, but he cannot fix the team’s tactical shortcomings if the underlying system remains unaltered.
During a recent defeat to Brighton, Bouaddi started alongside Anderson and Fernandez but was surprisingly deployed in an advanced midfield role.
That experiment failed to pay off, and Bouaddi was substituted after playing just 55 minutes out of position.
Maresca now faces a major task during the international break to overhaul a system that currently forces players into roles that do not suit their natural strengths.
Analysts note that playing Anderson as the sole defensive midfielder while tasking him with multiple roles demands too much from the player.
Similarly, deploying Fernandez in a more advanced position alongside Cherki has proven to be counter-productive for the club.
A simpler solution involves playing Bouaddi as the primary number six while shifting Anderson to a number eight role to restore proper balance.
Such adjustments would also allow playmakers like Phil Foden, Cherki or Fernandez to thrive in the number ten space.
Finding the right tactical balance remains the top priority for Maresca as the club looks to recover from a three-game losing streak in the Premier League.
If the manager successfully implements a system that maximizes squad assets, the team’s overall play and results should improve markedly.