Manchester City made a winning start to life without Pep Guardiola as late goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory against Bournemouth on Sunday in Enzo Maresca’s first Premier League game as the Spaniard’s replacement.
England midfielder Elliot Anderson has been Maresca’s only major signing and he was unimpressive before hobbling off in the second half. Guardiola won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles, during a glorious decade with City. City’s lacklustre 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in last weekend’s Community Shield raised questions about their ability to keep pace with the Premier League champions this season.
Maresca insists he can replicate Guardiola’s trophy haul if he is given time to handle the “big changes” at the club.
Marcus Tavernier’s first half goal put Bournemouth ahead at the Etihad Stadium before City staged a pulsating fightback in the final minutes. The City striker, who starred for Norway at the World Cup, might have looked sharp, but his finishing was rusty when he somehow prodded wide from close-range after O’Reilly’s cross presented him with a golden opportunity. City are set to sign teenage Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth £86 million ($117 million), according to reports on Sunday.
