Everything is new. Everything is different. Omar Marmoush steps off the plane at Manchester Airport and is immediately hit with a sensory overload. He peers out from the blacked-out windows of his chauffeured car, taking in the city he now calls home. The unfamiliarity extends beyond the skyline he’s learning the names of supermarkets, adjusting to the pace of a new life, and, most importantly, adapting to a fresh tactical approach on the pitch.
On the field, the adaptation is swift. After a dynamic debut against Chelsea, his new teammates are already impressed. “He has something special,” says Erling Haaland. “He’s going to be a fantastic player for us. It’s about getting to know him as soon as possible because there are so many important games coming.”
The timing of his arrival could be crucial. With critical matches ahead including a double-header against Real Madrid in the Champions League and a Premier League run featuring Newcastle, Liverpool, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton City’s season is still alive. The next challenge, a trip to Arsenal, may well determine if there’s something significant to salvage from an unpredictable campaign.
Marmoush played 73 minutes against Chelsea, had 28 touches, and was ineligible for the 3-1 win over Club Brugge. Yet, even with a limited sample size, his arrival signals an evolution in City’s playing style, potentially marking the emergence of a new tactical phase under their manager.
Between 2017 and 2022, City dominated English football through a system built on positional play—quick passing triangles, rehearsed movements, and collective goal-scoring responsibility. Then, between 2022 and 2024, the approach shifted. With Haaland as the focal point, City’s attack revolved around delivering the ball into scoring positions for him, leading to a treble-winning season.
Now, the team is adapting once again. The manager recently offered insight into where football is heading, citing teams like Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Brighton as models. “Modern football is not positional, being there. You have to ride the rhythm. We could not.”
This shift prioritizes fluidity over rigid structure. It’s about getting the ball quickly into spaces where defenders aren’t, allowing for improvisation rather than strict positional discipline. Coaches like Fabian Hürzeler at Brighton and Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth emphasize dribbling, quick switches, and dynamic movement over structured patterns. City’s recruitment hints at an awareness of this shift Jérémy Doku and Matheus Nunes were signed to increase dribbling ability, while new center-backs Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov allow for greater tactical flexibility. Even Josko Gvardiol, nominally a defender, is being utilized as a disruptive force on the left flank, arriving late in attacking moves.
Marmoush’s role within this system adds another dimension. Against Chelsea, he continually made curved runs in behind, pulling defenders inward and creating space for others to exploit. His movement forced Chelsea to narrow, allowing Nunes and Gvardiol to find gaps on the flanks. The impact was immediate, even if subtle. “He made incredible movements that players in the middle could not see,” said the manager. “It’s a question of time.”
Beyond the tactical shift, Marmoush’s presence could also unlock Haaland in new ways. At Dortmund, Haaland thrived on running off the last defender, exploiting space in behind. At City, he’s often been limited to attacking the six-yard box or dropping deep to facilitate buildup play. Now, defenders must prepare for multiple threats Haaland dropping deep while Marmoush runs in behind, or vice versa. Alternatively, both could attack the last line, or Marmoush could stay wide while Phil Foden drifts centrally. The unpredictability is the key.
City’s transformation contrasts with Sunday’s opponents. Arsenal, too, have evolved under Mikel Arteta, strengthening in midfield and defense. Yet, their attacking patterns remain structured, centered around Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz. Their system prioritizes control over chaos, minimizing risk rather than embracing it.
How this shift plays out remains uncertain. Tactical adjustments take time, and one game no matter how crucial won’t define the success of a long-term evolution. But even as this chapter nears its conclusion, the groundwork for the next era is already being laid.
