Maresca: We've been put to the test, but overall we are handling it well

In the space of just a few days, Manchester City went from an exhilarating 3-0 away victory over Liverpool in the Premier League to a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. That setback proved to be only their second loss of the season, having won their other eight fixtures. As a result, City head into Gameweek 7 at the top of the Premier League table with a perfect record. Manager Enzo Maresca insisted that the defeat against PSG has not affected his squad ahead of Saturday's home clash with Ipswich Town.

“The demanding schedule has really tested the squad, but overall the players have handled it well following the international break and two grueling fixtures against Liverpool at Anfield and PSG at home. However, tomorrow's match offers three points just like the Anfield game did. That's why it's crucial we maintain our momentum and push for the win,” Maresca emphasized.

The Italian tactician revealed he rewatched the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and remains convinced that Manchester City deserved a better outcome.

“I rewatched the match early yesterday morning and my view hasn't changed. Before conceding the opener, we had a penalty shout involving Rayan Cherki, a free-kick from Enzo, and a corner that struck the crossbar. Then we conceded the first goal, followed by the second just a minute later. At that point, we lost our shape and our balance across the pitch. That can happen when you're facing what you consider the best team in Europe and suddenly find yourself 2-0 down in two minutes. However, our second-half display was fantastic. Ultimately, I feel we deserved more out of it. That's football. We can take valuable lessons from it, and I learned a great deal from the game, including the first half where certain things didn't click. It's a great learning process for me and everyone in the squad,” Maresca explained.

The manager reiterated that he feels no pressure regarding the external situation surrounding the club, expressing complete faith in the hierarchy: “I am very pleased and happy! I don't feel any pressure at all because it's completely out of my control. My sole focus is on how to win the upcoming matches. I have full trust in the club. I've spoken with the board several times and they've explained the situation, so everything is completely clear to me. I have 100% faith in the club and the people running it. That's precisely why I chose to come here,” the former Chelsea boss stated.

Maresca also addressed Ruben Dias' comments suggesting that people dislike seeing Manchester City win.

“Ruben mentioned that people don't like Manchester City winning, but we love winning. I think that sends a great message to everyone. On a personal level, amidst all the external noise, I see the fans, the board, and the squad coming together even closer,” Maresca added.

Maresca admitted he is considering resting Erling Haaland in upcoming matches due to the congested fixture list: “At some point, we have to give him a breather, a couple of days away from the training pitch. We are weighing that up. And it's not just about Erling.”

Regarding Phil Foden, the manager noted that the England international is training well and in high spirits, though a decision has yet to be made on whether he will start the next match: “We take it day by day with him. He's been training well and performing strongly since we began working together. His attitude is very positive. We'll see how he is tomorrow. He is available, but with so many fixtures ahead, we will decide whether he starts. There is no doubt he will make an impact for us.”

The Italian revealed he caught up with Pep Guardiola following Wednesday's match, with the former Manchester City manager in attendance: “I saw him after the game. We spoke about the match. He was delighted to be at the stadium and pleased with what he saw. It was fantastic for the fans to see him back in the stands. This will always be his home.”

Maresca also singled out Ayyoub Bouaddi for praise following his display against PSG, highlighting the youngster's ability to elevate the performance of his teammates.

“He is a fantastic player. What stands out about Ayyoub is that when he is on the pitch, he makes everyone around him better. That is the hallmark of top-class players. Sometimes, when such players are on the field, the rest of the team performs at a higher level. With Ayyoub, that's exactly how I feel—whenever he plays, the players around him improve,” the Manchester City manager concluded.