Man City FPL team guide 2026/27

Asked about Haaland missing part of training, Maresca said: "He just had some small things behind his heels but he's okay." Haaland is available for the Community Shield, though previews expect him to be eased in off the bench having only recently returned post-World Cup with no friendly minutes.

FPL: No fitness concern for GW1 — the heel issue is resolved and Maresca declared him available. A reduced role in the Shield is workload management, not a doubt.

Maresca confirmed Rodri is back at the City Football Academy but has not resumed group training: "He's now in rehab... when he's ready to start training session with us." He is out of the Community Shield, and reports differ on whether the 23 August opener vs Bournemouth is realistic.

FPL: Rodri should not be trusted for GW1 — he has not trained with the squad and no return date is set. Nico González and Kovačić are the likely beneficiaries in the holding role.

Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, Marc Guehi, Elliot Anderson and Nico O'Reilly all rejoined full first-team training on Wednesday 12 August after extended World Cup breaks, giving Maresca close to a full squad for the first time. None has played a minute of pre-season, and reports suggest Haaland and Anderson may be limited to bench roles on Sunday.

FPL: This resolves the availability doubts we held on Cherki, Guehi, Anderson, O'Reilly and Doku ahead of the 23 August opener. Expect managed minutes in the Community Shield, but all should be in contention for the league opener.

Rodri returned to Manchester on 14 August following his 27 July back operation and is described as the one guaranteed City absentee for Sunday's Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff. He has done no pre-season work with the group, and his future remains unresolved amid unconsummated interest from Barcelona.

FPL: Rodri is a major doubt for the 23 August opener too, having rejoined only nine days beforehand with zero pre-season minutes. Avoid until he is seen training fully or starts a match.

City and Al Qadsiah reached a full verbal agreement on 13 August for Tijjani Reijnders at £52m (c.€61m), with both clubs exchanging documents and signatures expected imminently. ESPN reports personal terms close and the move finalised once he completes a medical; Reijnders skipped City training. Not yet officially announced by either club.

FPL: Reijnders should be treated as leaving and removed from squad plans despite no official confirmation yet. His exit frees central midfield minutes at a time when Rodri is short of fitness, which helps Anderson and Foden.

In City's final pre-season match (Seoul, 9 Aug) Maresca started Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias (c), Vitor Reis, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Reijnders; Savinho, Foden, Semenyo; Marmoush. Semenyo set up both Marmoush goals and was man of the match, taking him to four assists in three tour games; Ait-Nouri added a late third. Haaland, Rodri, Cherki, Anderson, O'Reilly, Guehi and Doku all played no part. Maresca said the wingers' threat was the tour's standout feature and that "from tomorrow pre-season is finished and the real business starts".

FPL: Semenyo is being used as the focal supply line in Maresca's winger-heavy setup, reinforcing his premium-midfielder case. Marmoush's brace is stand-in No.9 output only — Haaland is back in training this week and remains the nailed striker.

Speaking after Sunday's 3-1 friendly win over Atletico Madrid in Seoul, Enzo Maresca was asked about Rodri's situation and said: "Yes, at the moment he will be in Manchester. There is no update. On Aug. 14 he will be back." Rodri missed the entire Asia tour while recovering from back surgery following the World Cup; Maresca gave no separate return-to-play date.

FPL: Rodri only rejoins the group two days before the Community Shield, so he is very unlikely to be match-fit for that and is a real doubt to start the 23 Aug opener v Bournemouth. Treat him as a bench/rotation risk for GW1 rather than a nailed starter.