A Brilliant First Impression from Marmoush and a Positive Partnership with Haaland

The match against Chelsea two days ago saw the debut of two of the three players Manchester City signed during the current winter transfer window. It became clear that Egyptian winger Omar Marmoush could be a strong addition to help the team get back on track.

Spanish coach Pep Guardiola couldn’t hide his happiness in the final minutes of the match, where Manchester City defeated Chelsea 3-1 on Saturday evening. His enjoyment was understandable after months of anxiety and turbulence.

However, Guardiola’s smile wasn’t just about earning three points, ending a catastrophic period, or Manchester City returning to the top four and securing a Champions League spot. His satisfaction stemmed from the fact that this victory represented the seed of a tactical shift, what could be described as “a new way to revive Manchester City’s project,” with the young Egyptian star Omar Marmoush at its core.

It would be naive to overstate this impact, especially considering Chelsea’s underwhelming performance in this match. They failed to capitalize on their early lead and fell victim to familiar errors from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Guardiola discussed some intriguing aspects of the game, saying:
“Modern football is played the way Bournemouth, Brighton, and Newcastle play—just as we used to play. That’s modern football today. It’s no longer about fixed positions; it’s about controlling the game’s rhythm.”

As one of the pioneers of positional football, built around short passes and ball possession over the past decade, Guardiola’s remarks were groundbreaking. They suggested that the Spanish coach has realized the game has evolved and that Manchester City must adapt to avoid falling behind. Early signs of this transformation were evident against Chelsea.

From the outset, Manchester City appeared different. They played more long balls forward, and their players made runs behind Chelsea’s defensive line. Marmoush, the Egyptian star from Eintracht Frankfurt, positioned himself close to Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. Both players made direct runs toward goal, an unusual sight for City’s forwards. They were supported by overlapping runs from Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes, creating constant pressure on Chelsea’s defense.

Initially, Marmoush managed to draw Reece James out of position, allowing Gvardiol to advance unmarked and receive long passes. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca attempted to address this by instructing Noni Madueke to drop back and help cover this area, while James was tasked with marking Marmoush, whose relentless movement caused chaos in Chelsea’s defense.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, their early lead unraveled. Maresca’s tactical adjustments backfired, leading to the equalizer. Madueke, unfamiliar with defensive duties, made a positioning error that allowed Nunes to break the offside trap. Though Nunes’ shot was saved, Gvardiol followed up and slotted home the rebound. City’s players were constantly running and pressing—right down to their fullbacks—showcasing an entirely new playing style.

Even before the equalizer, City’s relentless direct play pinned Chelsea back on the flanks. This pattern became even more pronounced in the second half when City scored two additional goals through long balls. Haaland’s goal resulted from an error by Sanchez, but the goalkeeper’s rash decision-making stemmed from the constant pressure on his defenders.

Sanchez, already under scrutiny for a costly mistake against Wolves earlier in the week, made five errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season—more than any other player.

The third goal, described by commentator Gary Neville on Sky Sports as “a goal straight out of the 1990s,” came from swift passing and a classic attacking partnership between Haaland and Phil Foden.

By that point, Marmoush was no longer on the field. However, his direct runs—both offensively and defensively—played a pivotal role in shaping the game. It’s clear that Marmoush will be a key figure in City’s future.

While Marmoush impressed on his debut, fellow newcomer Uzbek defender Abdulkadir Khusanov from Lens struggled. His nervousness contributed to Chelsea’s early third-minute goal, and he endured a tough first half.

Chelsea could have capitalized on Khusanov’s shaky performance but squandered opportunities to extend their lead. Coach Maresca remarked:
“We started the game very well, scored early, and could have added a second and third, which would’ve changed everything.”

Indeed, Chelsea missed chances to go 2-0 up in the ninth minute. Cole Palmer’s poor pass denied Nicolas Jackson a clear scoring opportunity. At that moment, Khusanov seemed overwhelmed, and City appeared disheartened. Had Chelsea scored a second, the match could have taken a very different turn.

Speaking about Marmoush, Guardiola said:
“He adapted immediately despite joining only two days ago. He’s a very good player, particularly in linking up with others and his incredible movement on the pitch. Even in his first game, he integrated quickly and moved brilliantly.”

Haaland, Marmoush’s new strike partner, described the Egyptian as a “fantastic” signing after his impressive debut. Marmoush had a goal ruled out for offside in the 35th minute and forced a fine save from Chelsea’s goalkeeper early in the game before being substituted for Belgian captain Kevin De Bruyne in the final 15 minutes.

Haaland praised Marmoush, saying:
“In the first half, you could see he has something special, which is why City bought him. It’s about giving him confidence. He’ll be a fantastic player for us. He had a brilliant first half of the season with Eintracht Frankfurt, and we hope he continues that form with us.”

Marmoush, 25, scored 20 goals in 26 matches for Eintracht Frankfurt this season before joining City for £59 million ($72.6 million) just five days ago.