Maresca on Anfield triumph, PSG clash, and Guardiola's visit

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca addressed the media ahead of tomorrow's Champions League showdown against back-to-back winners Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian expressed confidence that, following their impressive victory at Anfield, his squad is ready to take on the French champions.

Maresca brushed aside criticism regarding how his players celebrated their triumph on Merseyside.

"The feeling after the Liverpool match was fantastic. But that's in the past now. Our focus is entirely on tomorrow night, and we hope to share another special moment with our supporters after the final whistle.

"What is there to criticise? We won 3-0 at Anfield – what more can you ask from us? Even if it had been 1-0, it would be the exact same. We are here today to win tomorrow's game. We work every single day to win matches. That is the only thing we can focus on. We were overjoyed on the pitch, and you can't begin to imagine the atmosphere in the dressing room."

The manager also revealed that he hasn't spoken recently with his predecessor Pep Guardiola, who has promised to be in the stands at the Etihad tomorrow to support the club, the team, and the fans during this challenging period.

"Like I said, I spoke with him after the United game, so I'm not sure what his plan is. I don't know if he'll head straight to the stadium or stop by the training ground. I genuinely have no idea. It's exciting for everyone, especially the fans, but right now I don't know Pep's schedule. This was his home for 10 years. It is still his home – given everything he achieved here!"

The Italian tactician also shared his thoughts specifically on the upcoming test against PSG:

"We are definitely a strong side, without question. Where do we stand compared to PSG right now? I don't know. I know how good they are because they've won the Champions League for the last two seasons. That speaks volumes about their quality, but as I said, we are a very good team too. Tomorrow night's objective is clear: to win, we have to deliver a flawless performance, because right now they are the best team in Europe. Winning the last two Champions League titles proves just how good they are. We need a perfect display, but if we give our all, I believe we can beat them and celebrate a big result at the end.

"It's probably harder for our fans right now than it is for the players or for me. If I were an Arsenal or United fan and you supported City, I might say, 'Hey, you're cheats'... So the situation is more complicated for them. My message to our supporters? First of all, the atmosphere at Anfield was incredible. Even though we know that ground well, our fans were magnificent from the first whistle – they gave everything, their passion and their voices. I hope they bring that same energy tomorrow night because we're going to need it. And not just tomorrow – on Saturday, we host Ipswich. We're back in Premier League action, and we must keep our momentum going. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow night. I was here during the Treble-winning season, and I know how special Champions League nights are – hopefully tomorrow will be another one.

"I've said many times that I am completely relaxed. I don't stress over things that are beyond my control. The message to the squad remains unchanged. We understand the gravity of the situation, but it's not something we can directly influence. The only place where we can make a difference is on the pitch. There is a lot of external noise around the team, but we have to manage it and generate our own noise – through winning games."