13 September 2026 …
Manchester derby: Fixed v fluid – opposite approaches Maresca and Carrick are taking
Maresca sees freedom differently.
“If the freedom for you is that you can move everywhere, that is not freedom, that is chaos,” he told Sky Sports last September.
“[Our] freedom? You can do what you want in the position you receive the ball.”
Manchester City‘s starting XI occupy specific zones on the pitch in their 3-2-5 or 3-1-3-3 shape on the ball.
This makes their approach more predictable for