Manchester City sporting director Viana assesses club’s summer rebuild
In Manchester, United Kingdom, Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana said the club was satisfied with the summer transfer window, during which the head coach and the team’s squad changed. Former Pep Guardiola assistant Enzo Maresca took charge of the club after the end of the Spanish coach’s era.
According to The National (UAE), Maresca won all four of City’s opening Premier League matches, including the Manchester derby, as well as the team’s first Champions League away match against Porto. Viana noted that the new coach had already worked at the club, adapted quickly and brought his own ideas.
Squad changes
John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, James Trafford, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez, Omar Marmoush and Savio left Manchester City in the summer. The team’s newcomers include Elliot Anderson, Geronimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Jeremy Monga, Iliman Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Viana said the club considered different options to strengthen the required positions. According to him, due to the arrival of a new coach, new players and the World Cup, transfer processes took place somewhat later than usual. He added that a footballer’s qualities and mentality are more important to the club than their country of origin.
Assessment of the newcomers
The sporting director singled out Anderson, emphasizing his work rate and energy. Viana said the midfielder should be more disciplined on the pitch, but Maresca is working well with him. He also mentioned Anderson’s performances for Nottingham Forest and the national team.
Viana described the arrival of Enzo Fernandez as important following the departures of Rodri and Bernardo Silva. According to him, Maresca had already worked with the footballer and knows his capabilities well. Regarding Bouaddi, Viana noted that the club had monitored the Lille player over the past year and considers him a footballer with high potential in the defensive midfield position.
