Marc Guehi was a surprise selection in Manchester City’s midfield against Bournemouth on Sunday, but enjoyed his new position under Enzo Maresca.
The England international lined up in the middle of the park alongside summer signing Elliot Anderson at the Etihad.
When Marcus Tavernier gave the Cherries the lead in the 26th minute it looked like a gamble that was not paying off for the new boss.
However, after a long wait for an equaliser it was Guehi who provided it, heading in on 84 minutes.
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As the clock ticked into injury time, Josko Gvardiol then produced a brilliantly taken winner to earn three points for City from behind.
Guehi has spent his career playing at centre-back but relished his more advanced role in the first Premier League game of the season.
‘I enjoyed it today,’ he told the BBC. ‘Simply because I had so much help from every single person, and so much support from the team, and when you have that, you feel comfortable to just go out, play, and do what you can for the team.’
Maresca did have both Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic on the bench against Bournemouth, but explained why he fancied Guehi alongside Anderson.
‘In this moment it’s a matter of finding a solution,’ he told a post-match press conference. ‘I know Marc from [Crystal] Palace and always thought he could play midfielder because he’s very good.
‘Sometimes you visualise, we tried in the first two days in the week after the Arsenal game as a central defender stepping [up], and then tried in the last two days as a proper midfielder. And I think it was quite a good performance from him.
‘Now the good thing is now he gives us solutions for the future.’
Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is about to arrive from Lille, which may mean Guehi’s venture into midfield will be short-lived.
However, Maresca would not comment on the expected deal to sign the 18-year-old, saying: ‘To be honest, I didn’t see no one from the club. So after the press conference, I will see them. So please wait, because I don’t know if there are any updates at the moment. So probably you’re more updated than me.’
Manchester City are back in action on Friday night at Crystal Palace and Maresca will be tempted to make changes to his starting XI.
Rayan Cherki came on for the final half hour and provided the assists for both Guehi and Gvardiol’s goals.
Phil Foden started in the no.10 role but his place will be under threat from the Frenchman.
Elliot Anderson limped out of the game in the second half, but Maresca suggested that he would be fit for the trip to Selhurst Park.
‘I think it was cramp,’ said Maresca of the England midfielder. ‘We still have four or five players that are not 100 per cent and he is one of them.’
