Enzo Maresca didn’t even get one new midfielder in January, never mind the two he wanted. While Stefano Sensi was the priority and the man City came very close to signing, he’d have been accompanied by a more physically-imposing signing if Maresca had had his way and financial restrictions did not have to be considered.
In every game bar one in the first half of the season, one of Wilfred Ndidi or Cesare Casadei started. Come January, Ndidi was injured and Casadei was back at Chelsea, leaving Maresca with a hole to fill.
When City drew at home to Ipswich, Maresca rued that he didn’t have a “different kind of player” to bring off the bench to help see out the win. He later clarified that what he meant was someone with more physicality.
With Ndidi potentially out until April, Maresca is having to make do. Dennis Praet, Yunus Akgun, and Kasey McAteer have all been given a chance but it is the former that seems to be the favourite for now, Praet starting more regularly, with Maresca admitting he brings a little more physicality compared to his current rivals. The Belgian has been growing in effectiveness too.
