Maresca's big test is to address mounting Man City issues

Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's new manager, faced a tough challenge on Saturday as he witnessed his team suffer consecutive top-flight defeats. After a flawless start winning his first seven Premier League games, Maresca's honeymoon period has come to an end. The manager, who replaced the legendary Pep Guardiola, acknowledged the team's efforts but expressed disappointment in not being able to secure more victories.

City's defensive frailties have become increasingly problematic, with the team conceding 10 goals in nine league games, double the amount allowed by Manchester United's team. Maresca's defensive choices, specifically the relegation of Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma, seem to have contributed to the recent slip. The manager also pointed out individual errors at the back, as well as the lack of clinicality in attack.

Despite having 20 goals in nine Premier League games, City only managed to score once against Brighton. Maresca's side is currently second in the Premier League in terms of goal scoring but may fall behind Arsenal if the Gunners win their match against Liverpool on Sunday. City's midfield, which underwent a £327m reshaping in the summer, is still being fine-tuned.

Maresca experimented with three physical midfielders, but the result was not as expected. The manager expressed confidence in his team's ability to learn from this setback and move on to the next challenge.