Manchester City projected XI: Who joins Erling Haaland as City starts life after Pep?

Manchester City gets a second chance. Well, really, it's a first chance. The FA Cup winners came out flat in the Community Shield last week, falling 3-0 to Arsenal in the traditional curtain-raiser for the season. But this one, a home match against Bournemouth on Sunday, Aug. 23, really counts. It's

The Soccer Zone

SEE ALL

Trendline

Former Real Zaragoza Player Jaime Vallejo Suffers Potential ACL Tear, Raising Concerns for Long-Term Injury

SB Nation

Bayern Munich assistant coach helps stop pitch invader during Franz Beckenbauer Supercup celebration

SB Nation

Post-Supercup Reactions: Sloppy, With Hints of Promise

What is the story about?

Manchester City gets a second chance.

Well, really, it's a first chance.

The FA Cup winners came out flat in the Community Shield last week, falling 3-0 to Arsenal in the traditional curtain-raiser for the season. But this one, a home match against Bournemouth on Sunday, Aug. 23, really counts. It's Enzo Maresca's first official match as manager, trying to fill the unenviable task of replacing Pep Guardiola. The legendary manager left City after the club's most successful decade, with the Italian now hoping to fill his shoes even after a summer in which the typical big spenders have seen more go out, in the form of Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and reportedly Omar Marmoush, than they've seen arrive.

Still, it's a deep squad and new reinforcements have

come in - though not as many as now-demanding fans would like.

Two injuries limit the options for Maresca on Sunday. Winger Jeremy Doku suffered a calf issue and won't be fit for this contest. Jack Grealish replaced him at halftime of the Community Shield game. And right back Matheus Nunes is available after suffering an injury in warm-ups of the Community Shield, but the manager may give him more time to fully recover. Either he or Abdukodir Khusanov will go at right back.

There also is the matter of where the versatile Josep Gvardiol will play along the back - with the option to be in the center or to go out left if Marc Guéhi comes into the starting XI.

Here's how Man City may line up in its first match in a decade without Pep pulling the strings:

Manchester City projected lineup vs. Bournemouth

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Defenders: Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josep Gvardiol, Nico O'Reilly
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic
Wingers and attacking midfielders: Antoine Semenyo, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki
Forward: Erling Haaland