Football pundits are increasingly scrutinising a troubling pattern in Enzo Maresca’s tactical playbook, which has consistently produced high peaks alongside sudden, concentrated drop-offs.

The trend came full circle on Saturday, November 7, 2026, following the club’s 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest.

Across his managerial career at Parma from May to November 2021, Leicester City, Chelsea, and now Manchester City, a distinct trend has emerged: his teams suffer steep slump clusters once their initial momentum is broken.

Rather than experiencing isolated setbacks, Maresca’s sides historically struggle to halt downward spirals quickly, often burning through hard-earned advantages while trying to regain control.

During his 2023–24 campaign with Leicester City, this vulnerability surfaced twice. After building a massive lead atop the EFL Championship table, his team suffered three consecutive league defeats between February and March 2024 against Leeds United, Middlesbrough, and QPR.

A month later, another setback with back-to-back losses to Millwall and Plymouth Argyle nearly reopened the promotion race.

A similar pattern doomed his first senior head-coaching stint at Parma in 2021, where an early wobble transformed into a dismal run of just four victories in 13 Serie B matches, ultimately leading to his dismissal after six months.

Historical difficulty

For Manchester City, this recurring trend is a clear cause for concern following their third straight Premier League defeat. In a title race where the margin for error is razor-thin, prolonged slumps can derail a campaign entirely.

While Maresca has previously shown the ability to steady the ship and steer teams back to success—as seen in Leicester’s eventual title win and his Club’s World Cup win with Chelsea—his historical difficulty in nipping losing streaks in the bud presents an immediate tactical hurdle City must overcome after the international break.

It remains to be seen how the club responds after the international break. The Cityzens have their work cut out with a return to action after the international break on Saturday, November 21, hosting Fulham at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal clash on card

Three days later, on Tuesday, November 24, they remain at home to face Napoli in a crucial UEFA Champions League group-stage encounter.

The three-game stretch concludes with a high-stakes away trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on title rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, November 29.