Enzo Fernandez is on the bench as Manchester City host Coventry today, while Iliman Ndiaye is in from the off.
A frantic Deadline Day saw City splash out £190million on the two stars, with Fernandez arriving from Chelsea for a British transfer record-equalling £125m, after Ndiaye had earlier joined from Everton in a deal worth up to £65m.
Add in the £86m arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi, and there is fierce competition for places all over the pitch. Fernandez starts on the bench against Coventry, as does the Morocco youngster. Ndiaye is the lucky winner, though, starting up top alongside the likes of Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo.
The experiment of Marc Guehi in defensive midfield, as seen against Bournemouth, will end, while there are now question marks over Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden’s starting berths moving forward, despite the Frenchman’s impressive start to the season.
Cherki is reinstated here, with Foden back on the bench.
Rico Lewis and Abdukodir Khusanov have been moving along the back line but the latter of the two is set to start on the right side of the defence against Coventry, with Guehi likely partnering Ruben Dias in the centre.
Regarding injury news, Matheus Nunes had been struggling for fitness but is back on the bench, while Jeremy Doku remains sidelined with a calf injury picked up against Arsenal in the Community Shield. Maresca has confirmed the former has returned to training, but he is not expected to pass muster today.
Man City XI vs Coventry: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol, Anderson, O’Reilly, Ndiaye, Cherki, Semenyo, Haaland
Subs: Rulli, Kovacic, Fernandez, Ait-Nouri, Nunez, Bouaddi, Foden, McAidoo, Lewis
Injured: Doku
Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday, September 2, 2026
How to watch: TNT Sports
Venue: Etihad Stadium
