Manchester City beat K-League All Stars 3-1 to pick up Enzo Maresca's first victory as head coach
Nico Gonzalez featured on Wednesday as Manchester City beat the K-League All Stars 3-1
Nico Gonzalez featured on Wednesday as Manchester City beat the K-League All Stars 3-1(Image: Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez believes the structure of the Blues has changed since Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola. The former Chelsea head coach took charge of City last month after a decade of dominance under Guardiola. Since then, Maresca has insisted that he does not want to copy the Catalan head coach's tactics.
And speaking after the win, Gonzalez agreed that changes have occurred since the Italian arrived. "I think for the team, everyone can tell that the structure feels quite different," he told City's Matchday Live. "Last year, we played a few games like this, for example I remember in the Champions League we played with Jeremy [Doku] inside and we didn't normally play this way.
"Personally, last year when I used to play, I was playing alone in the midfield and now I have someone who is next to me. I think it is clear that we try to arrive to the wingers. We have a lot of quality with the wingers so they can go 1v1, all the time.
"The main idea is the same in the end. We want to win the ball back as quick as possible, and have the ball. Then there are some things that change, but the main idea is the same."
City ran out 3-1 winners against the K-League All Stars on Wednesday. Kim Dae-Won cancelled out Rayan Ait-Nouri's opener before Tijjani Reijnders and Divin Mubama's goals gave the Blues a comfortable advantage at the break.
Following half-time, it was clear that the weather and mass changes halted the momentum of the game. On the conditions, Nico added: "It's been tough. It was so hot.
"I have never played in conditions like this before. I have played in Spain for a couple of years and this summer it was hot, but not like this, ever."
City remain in Seoul for the rest of the week ahead of finishing their pre-season tour on Sunday with a game against Atletico Madrid. The Blues then take on Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday week.