Pre-Season Friendly Insights: City vs K-League XI
Pre-season friendlies rarely shout for attention, but this one quietly asked a few important questions about the months ahead. A mixed City side eased through their workout against the K-League XI, with several players sharpening their cases for bigger roles – and one or two reminding everyone that standards will have to rise when the real stuff starts.
Donnarumma exposed, Lewis muted
Gianluigi Donnarumma endured the kind of evening goalkeepers dread in pre-season: almost nothing to do, then one moment to get right – and he didn’t. Beaten at his near post for the K-League XI’s equaliser, his main contribution was turning to pick the ball out of the net. A 5 that reflects how costly one lapse can look when everything else is quiet.
Ahead of him, Rico Lewis tucked in at right-back but never quite imposed himself. The teenager’s intelligence is obvious, yet this display only underlined what last Saturday hinted at: he looks far more natural stepping into midfield lanes than patrolling the touchline. Neat, tidy, unspectacular. A 6.
Dias leads, Gvardiol shifts, Khusanov cruises
With the armband strapped around his bicep, Ruben Dias looked every inch the leader. Vocal, authoritative, and unfazed, he marshalled a back line that was rarely stretched. With Bernardo Silva gone, the question hangs in the air: is this the season Dias becomes captain in more than name? A composed 6.
Beside him, Abdukodir Khusanov barely had to break stride. City’s dominance meant the Uzbek defender’s pace and recovery work stayed largely in reserve. He coasted through his 45 minutes, untroubled and efficient. Another 6.
More intriguing was Josko Gvardiol’s deployment. Stationed at left-back, he turned in a quietly convincing performance. No drama, no alarms, just solid positioning and clean use of the ball. With Maresca blessed with centre-back options, the thought lingers: is this where Gvardiol’s season really begins? A 6, but with a tactical asterisk.
Kovacic sharp, Reijnders outstanding
In midfield, Mateo Kovacic looked like a man who has put last season’s injury frustrations behind him. The Croatian saw plenty of the ball, knitting play together with his usual assurance. With Rodri absent and Kovacic having recently told BBC Sport the club “count on me” to contribute this season, this was the sort of outing that supports his words. A confident 7.
The standout, though, was Tijjani Reijnders. Given license to roam, he seized it. He drove from deep, broke lines with those long-legged surges and repeatedly arrived in the box with menace. He played a major role in the opening goal, then lashed home a superb second, a rasping finish that underlined his threat. This was a performance with weight and personality. An emphatic 8.
Ait-Nouri advanced, Semenyo sparkles
Rayan Ait-Nouri was pushed further forward from his usual left-back station and responded with a winger’s instinct. His movement into the box was sharp, his timing precise, and his first-time finish to break the deadlock was coolly taken. If this is an experiment, it’s one worth revisiting. A lively 7.
On the opposite flank, Antoine Semenyo crackled with energy. Operating from the right, the Ghanaian tormented defenders with his direct running and willingness to try the unexpected. His audacious flick to set up Reijnders’ goal summed up his confidence and imagination. Another eye-catching 8 to add to his growing pre-season reel.
Foden off-target, Mubama poaches
Phil Foden drifted into pockets, constantly scanning for the ball, always available between the lines. The ideas were there, the influence in flashes too, but when his big moment arrived he blazed over from a very presentable position. For a player of his quality, it will sting, even in July. A flat 6.
Divin Mubama, by contrast, made his main chance count. The young forward reacted quickest when the goalkeeper spilled the ball, snapping up his second goal in as many pre-season games with a classic poacher’s finish. He should have had another with the goal gaping, somehow failing to convert, but his stock continues to rise. A promising 7.
Bettinelli calm, kids step in
Marcus Bettinelli, usually watching from the shadows as third-choice goalkeeper, stepped into the heat without fuss. He dealt cleanly with what came his way, most notably by coming out decisively to claim a high cross. No drama, just calm competence. A 6.
Among the defenders introduced, Vitor Reis stood out for his alertness, racing back to make a vital block as the K-League XI threatened on the break. Max Alleyne read danger well too, sliding across to snuff out another attack. Both did what was asked of them. Sixes apiece.
Savinho, so bright against Inter, couldn’t quite find the same spark this time. The intent was there, the impact wasn’t. A 6 that reflects a quieter outing.
Nico Gonzalez, always available for the ball, worked to keep the midfield ticking and will quietly fancy his chances of stepping up in Rodri’s absence. Another 6.
Stephen Mfuni banked more minutes at left-back, important experience for the England youth international, while Matheus Nunes slotted back into his now-familiar right-back role after returning from the World Cup with Portugal. Both steady, both rated at 6.
Marmoush misfires, Echeverri and Monga wait their turn
Omar Marmoush, also back from World Cup duty with Egypt, found chances but not the finish. A header drifted off target and two further efforts were repelled by the goalkeeper. The movement was encouraging; the end product wasn’t. A 6.
Jaden Heskey’s appearance came with a subplot. His brother Reigan has already left the club this summer, and Jaden’s own future remains uncertain. On this evidence, he did little wrong, but little decisive either. Another 6.
Claudio Echeverri entered in the second half but struggled to stamp himself on the game. Few touches of note, little opportunity to shine. A quiet 6.
Jeremy Monga, the £10m teenager signed from Leicester, made his first City appearance and offered a glimpse of what might come. He found the net, only to see the goal ruled out, a frustrating twist on what could have been a dream debut. Still, the excitement around him will only grow. He, too, earns a 6.
Several youngsters – Jack Wint, Max Chabot, Kaden Braithwaite, Matty Henderson-Hall, Divine Mukasa, Xavier Parker, Floyd Samba and Mahamadou Sangare – stayed on the bench, their turns waiting somewhere down the line.
Pre-season rarely delivers definitive verdicts. But nights like this shape pecking orders, nudge tactical experiments, and hint at who might seize the gaps left by departed leaders. When the real season starts, who from this group will still be on the fringes – and who will have forced their way into the centre of City’s plans?
