Forty-eight hours after Manchester City’s setback against PSG in the Champions League (2-4), the pill is still not working for Enzo Maresca. Largely dominated in the first period, the Skyblues conceded three goals after the break and found themselves with their backs to the wall against the European champions. To try to reverse the situation, the Italian technician made several changes, notably with the entries of Iliman Ndiaye, Matheus Nunes and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Choices which had allowed the Cityzens to make the Parisians doubt, without however managing to avoid this first European misstep.
On the eve of Ipswich Town’s reception in the Premier League, Maresca was asked about this performance. And he doesn’t budge: Manchester City would have deserved better given their reaction in the second half. “ I rewatched the PSG match yesterday, very early in the morning, and my feeling remains the same: before conceding the first goal, we had this penalty situation claimed by Rayan Cherki, Enzo’s free kick, and this corner which ended up on the crossbar… All this before their opening score “, he explained. The former assistant to Pep Guardiola then admitted that his team had lost its bearings after conceding goals from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé, in quick succession. “ Then we conceded the first goal, then, a minute later, the second. At that point, I think we lost our compactness and balance. It can happen, especially against what is perhaps the best team in Europe. In two minutes, we found ourselves trailing 0-2. »
“ A fantastic second half »
Despite this unfavorable scenario, Maresca was keen to highlight the reaction of his players after the break. More enterprising and more dangerous, the Mancuniens had put PSG under pressure to try to get back into the match, even if their efforts had not been enough. For the former Chelsea coach, this second act nevertheless remains a reason for satisfaction. “ The second half was fantastic. In the end, I think we deserved better “, he continued.
“ It’s football, we can learn from it. Me included, especially in the first period, because certain aspects did not work. It’s an enriching learning process, for me and for everyone! » Enzo Maresca will now have to build on the positives from this crazy European evening, while Manchester City must quickly refocus on the championship and preserve their place at the top of the Premier League.
