Manchester City secured their spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup thanks to their 5-0 victory over Norwich City.
Enzo Maresca gave a few youngsters a chance, with 17-year-old Floyd Samba opening the scoring just before the half-hour mark. Three minutes later, Rayan Cherki doubled Man City’s lead to put the hosts in even more control.
But Man City didn’t stop there. After setting up Samba’s opener, Allan got himself on the scoresheet just a few minutes into the second half. Samba got his second of the game shortly after, with Ryan McAidoo wrapping up the win in the 90th minute.
A few performances from Man City’s second string group could have Maresca thinking ahead of their game against Sunderland.
In this article, we’ll cover
Creating tensions
Maresca’s side moved from their 4-2-3-1 shape into a 3-1-6/2-2-5-1 on the ball, with both full-backs inverting into the halfspaces on either side.
You then had both Rayan Ait-Nouri and Allan operating as touchline wingers, holding the width and looking to stretch the opposition block.
But it was Ayyoub Bouaddi’s positioing that began to create tensions for Norwich in their defensive scheme. The young midfielder dropped from a pivot position into the space vacated by Nico O’Reilly to form a temporary back three on the ball.
Bouaddi dropping in firstly gave Man City a three-on-two overload against the front two in Norwich’s 4-4-2 defensive shape.
With both of Man City’s full-backs going into the pockets, the Norwich wide men were left with a decision on whether to follow them or to try and pass them off.
This often gave Bouaddi plenty of space on the ball in left centre-back zones, as O’Reilly dragged his man away, while Ait-Nouri pinned the Norwich full-back deep.
Advantages began to appear from these moments, as Bouaddi had time and space to pick incisive passes But it wasn’t the only way Man City were creating tensions in the opposition defence.
Rayan Cherki’s role
Cherki’s role was also key. At times, especially after Man City opened the scoring, Norwich would look to latch on in their press using the wide men more aggressively.
This often saw Papa Amadou Diallo jumping from a left midfield position to press Abdukodir Khusanov, leaving Norwich’s front two to press Vitor Reis and Bouaddi.
However, this gave Man City a four-on-three in midfield with their diamond. With the Norwich right midfielder following O’Reilly and Jacob Wright having to shift across to cover Rico Lewis, this allowed Mateo Kovacic and Cherki the opportunity to create a two-on-one against Sam Field.
In Maresca’s 3-1-6 shape, by having a player in both the left and right pocket, it allows the central player more freedom to roam to either side and drop deep to link play in the pivot.
And that’s exactly what Cherki did, dropping low as Lewis and O’Reilly split the midfield to open space for the Frenchman.
Man City youngsters shine
Samba was superb leading the line for Man City, especially considering the 17-year-old is naturally a midfielder by trade.
This worked well in Maresca’s system though, as the striker often drops in to turn the box into a pentagon shape, looking to receive passes and combine with the two tens.
Allan was another player to impress, despite having a few turnovers early, he set up the opening goal of the game for Samba, before also scoring himself early in the second half.
The Brazilian had 47 touches in his 71 minutes, completing two of his four dribble attempts, managing 18 carries and three progressive carries.
Bouaddi will likely be the player knocking on the door most, irrespective of the quality in midfield from Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez in recent weeks.
The Morocco international completed 98 of his 103 passes, creating two chances — one of which was a big chance — with one assist.
But he also made four ball recoveries and won his only aerial duel in the game, showing the defensive solidity he could add to Man City’s midfield in games that require more defensive steel and protection.
Maresca’s men face Sunderland at the Etihad this weekend, before a three week international break and Bouaddi will be hoping to be involved as Man City look to remain perfect in their opening five Premier League games of the season.