Fernandez and Ndiaye Show Promise on Manchester City Debuts

Manchester City’s two deadline-day arrivals offered glimpses of their value on debut, even though both had spent little time training with their new teammates. Enzo Fernandez, signed from Chelsea for £125 million, entered the starting lineup after Nico O’Reilly suffered a knock during the warm-up. Iliman Ndiaye, a £60 million signing, started as planned.

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It is much more easier when a player you already share time together [joins] because they know exactly what you want.

Fernandez operated in the number eight role and had freedom to move forward. He touched the ball six times in the opposition penalty area, second only to Erling Haaland’s 11, and could have marked his debut with a goal after seeing two shots blocked. He left after 76 minutes, replaced by fellow summer signing Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Fernandez also played a key part in the winning move. His precise pass released Antoine Semenyo, whose deep cross allowed Haaland to score his third goal in three games. City held on for a tense win over Coventry, helped by a series of saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma, and preserved its 100% winning start.

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We know each other very well, I know how good he is and I know that he is going to help the team to win games.

Ndiaye became the first Senegalese player to represent City and immediately posed a threat with his pace and dribbling. He attempted eight dribbles, more than any other player in the match. Maresca said Ndiaye had trained with the team only twice and still needed to learn how to move within the system, but added that the new arrivals had all performed well.

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Enzo and Iliman [played their] first game with us and then Ayyoub and Ryan [McAidoo) their first game in front of our fans. That is why I said there are many reasons I am happy about our win. I think they were all good.

“It is much more easier when a player you already share time together [joins] because they know exactly what you want,” Maresca said of Fernandez, whom he previously coached at Chelsea. “We know each other very well, I know how good he is and I know that he is going to help the team to win games.”

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Ili just had two sessions with us. He needs to understand how to move. Most of the time he was moving in the wrong way, wrong position, but he needs to learn and for sure he is going to learn.