Enzo Maresca is not responsible for Manchester City’s finances, but he is delighted the club invested £125m to reunite him with Enzo Fernández. The pair developed a close relationship during their time at Chelsea, and the Italian believed the midfielder could complete his tactical vision.
The Argentina international was just as determined to work with Maresca again and clearly informed his former club about his preferred destination. The price paid for the 25-year-old immediately attracted scrutiny, particularly after a summer in which he provoked opponents before Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain. Doubts were raised about his temperament and ability, but Maresca trusted his judgment and City approved a transfer on deadline day.
Before the match at Old Trafford, Fernández had enjoyed relatively straightforward outings in victories over Coventry and Porto. The performances themselves were less convincing, however, as City often looked disconnected in midfield and were bypassed more regularly than Maresca wanted. For a player who thrives on high-pressure situations, an away derby represented an irresistible challenge.
With Bruno Fernandes posing a major threat in the No 10 position and Kobbie Mainoo eager to prove himself against Elliot Anderson—the player occupying his England role and someone who helped end his nation’s World Cup campaign—City’s rebuilt midfield was always likely to face a demanding afternoon. The task became even tougher when Phil Foden left his mark on both the contest and Fernandes’s stomach midway through the opening half.
Playing away against your greatest rivals with 10 men is an enormous examination of resilience. Fernández responded positively and effectively took on the workload of two players after Rayan Cherki moved to the right during the tactical reorganisation, leaving the No 10 area open. Although operating as a No 8, Fernández was also given freedom to move into advanced spaces and provide Erling Haaland with the support he had been missing.
Any concerns about Fernández’s strength of character were answered during the rest of his appearance. Being asked to control both the pace and defensive balance of midfield seemed to energise him. Maresca regards Fernández as the leading figure among the club’s three summer midfield recruits, making him a natural reference point for Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Anderson covered more distance than anyone else, exceeding the totals of the red-shirted midfielders by well over half a kilometre. When Fernández was replaced by Nico O’Reilly in the 82nd minute, he had completed more than 10.25km and matched Anderson’s distance-per-minute rate, according to the match data.
The starting duo represent the modern, highly mobile midfielder, possessing exceptional stamina. That athleticism was a major reason both were pursued and acquired for substantial sums as City began reshaping the team for the era after Rodri. They understood their assignments and continued working until exhaustion took over. Fernández looked drained when he was substituted and then had to make the long walk around the field while receiving plenty of hostility. Anderson later explained that the team needed to cover more ground and compete harder, adding that every player delivered an outstanding effort.
Fernández did not merely cover significant ground; he repeatedly did so at top speed. He recorded 10 sprints, twice the number achieved by any other central midfielder, as he raced between both ends to support his teammates. He also won a match-high eight duels, one more than Anderson, and made more interceptions than any midfielder. As a result, United were unable to construct attacks through central areas as effectively as they wanted despite controlling more possession, with two former World Cup adversaries now working together to disrupt them.
City supporters sing Fernández’s name to the melody of the Cranberries’ Zombie, although the description hardly matches the energetic Argentinian. He certainly gets inside opponents’ heads through relentless movement and persistent provocation, illustrated when Harry Maguire shoved him after he attempted to earn a penalty. His most memorable contribution may have been remaining inactive while clearly offside during the buildup to Haaland’s winning goal. If that positioning was intentional, it was an exceptional display of gamesmanship, though even for Fernández that interpretation may be overly generous.
As Maresca raced along the touchline after the final whistle, Fernández used the last of his strength to make his way back onto the field and celebrate with his teammates. A final burst carried him toward the corner filled with delighted City supporters, who bounced in celebration while singing his name. Performances and moments such as these create club heroes, and Fernández had every reason to feel like one.
During the closing minutes, City’s supporters mocked the fans in red by repeatedly pointing out that their team had only 10 players. Judging by the performance, that numerical disadvantage was difficult to notice.
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