Maresca: We Made Adjustments at the Break and It Paid Off

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca shared his thoughts following his side's commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield. The Italian tactician delivered a detailed breakdown of the encounter, addressed the hostile away atmosphere, and stood up for the supporters amid the club's off-pitch issues.

"Very difficult circumstances, a tough environment. We really struggled in the first half – we were hesitant in possession, but we had even bigger problems without the ball. In the second half, we made some tactical adjustments and looked much better. In our build-up play before the break, we weren't doing the right things, but we fixed that after the interval," Maresca reflected.

Asked specifically about the famed Anfield atmosphere and whether it felt more intense than usual, the manager gave a measured response: "I don't know for sure. I came here with City once before, during the treble season. It was great to be involved in this kind of game because of the noise and the atmosphere. But we have to make our own noise and deal with theirs."

"We have to learn how to handle that acoustic pressure because it will follow us in every single away game – there will always be noise around. We must cope with that and respond with our own noise. And our noise means winning games. The feeling at the final whistle alongside our supporters and our noise is fantastic – it's a completely different sound," the Italian added.

He was then asked whether the club's off-pitch issues could serve as extra motivation and help galvanise the squad.

"Probably yes, probably not. I don't know. It could bring the team and our fans closer together. During the week I said: bring the passion, make some noise, and hopefully we can celebrate a win together. That's the only thing we can focus on," the manager noted.

He also underlined how crucial this victory was for the fans, particularly in light of the club's current situation.

"Absolutely, and for many reasons. After 10 to 15 years where this organisation has been winning titles and doing the right things, when something like this happens, it doesn't feel good for them. However, there is an ongoing process right now, and now is not the time," Maresca stated.

The manager went on to express his immense satisfaction with the team's display and the quality of the goals.

"Exceptional goals. Jeremy Doku was very good, but we have to manage him carefully. He's a key figure, but he is only just returning from injury. Absolutely everyone's performance was brilliant. Having the extra man made it easier to keep the ball, but I'm delighted with the three points. I can't control things outside of football, so why stress? I only stress over the game plan and the daily training sessions, but the rest is simply out of my hands," the City boss concluded.