Manchester City pulled off a wild 2-1 victory against Bournemouth on August 23, 2026, but it sure wasn’t easy, with the winning goal coming after they were still down in the 84th minute. This late comeback marks the latest City has trailed a Premier League home game they went on to win since their legendary 2011-12 title-winning season against QPR, when they were behind in the 92nd minute.
Coach Enzo Maresca wasn’t just happy with the win, he thought his squad absolutely deserved it, even after making things complicated for themselves. He pointed out they controlled the game and had “three or four clear chances” before Bournemouth even scored. Conceding made it a tougher fight, for sure, but Maresca was quick to praise the effort, especially from some players still getting up to speed. He mentioned Erling Haaland, Elliot Anderson, Marc Guehi, and Nico O’Reilly are among four or five players who only arrived ten days ago, making it “almost pre-season” for them. Guehi even stepped up big, playing very well in midfield despite never having played there before. Maresca saw something in him from his Palace days and tried him out there. The coach also highlighted the impact of his substitutions, saying the five changes made during the game were “very good.”
Defender Josko Gvardiol, who also got some time in midfield today, echoed the coach’s sentiments, saying the team did well and created a lot of chances early. He was “super proud” of everyone and the fans for sticking with them, stressing that kind of spirit is what they need every game. Gvardiol admitted he doesn’t play midfield often but “enjoyed it today” because he got so much help. After missing one headed chance, he bagged another, calling it “life” and emphasizing the need to “keep going” when things aren’t going your way. He also recognized the intense scrutiny that comes with playing for City, especially with a new manager and a lot of player movement this season. Important players have left, new ones are coming in, and the expectation is to keep those standards high.
It’s clear this Man City squad is still figuring things out with all the changes, but they’ve got a knack for getting the job done on opening day. This win continues a ridiculous trend, marking their 15th matchday one Premier League victory in the last 16 seasons. With eight days left in the transfer window, Maresca hinted that “something is going to happen” regarding new signings. We’ll be watching to see what moves they make next to solidify this evolving squad.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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