Manchester City pulled off a nail-biter 1-0 win against Coventry City on Saturday, securing their perfect 100 percent record, and manager Enzo Maresca is absolutely loving it. Erling Haaland’s first half goal was enough to seal the deal, but make no mistake, this was no cruise control victory. City were forced to sweat it out at home, and Maresca admitted it was exactly the kind of gritty performance he cherishes.
Maresca Loves the Grind: An ‘Ugly Win’ is Still a Win
This wasn’t a pretty game, but that’s exactly why Maresca is so hyped about it. “Today has been the one I really like, for different reasons,” he told the BBC. He knows these types of matches usually end with a bad taste in your mouth, often conceding late because you kept the opponent alive. The gaffer feels like City could have bagged another goal or two in the first half, which would have changed everything. But hey, they “suffer together,” and at the end of the day, they got the three points. Maresca knows the Premier League is tough, and sometimes you just need to grind out that 1-0 win.
He also pointed out the nightmare of facing a low block, describing it as “always complicated” when teams are just waiting for a mistake, a transition, or a set piece. Maresca felt his squad “dealt very well with that,” even if it meant some nerves for the home crowd. He totally gets why the Man City fans were feeling a bit anxious, saying it’s “normal” when you miss chances and leave the door open. Anything can happen in those moments, but making it out with the W? That’s what counts!
Fresh Faces Get Their Shot as Haaland Keeps Delivering
It wasn’t all just about the scoreline. Maresca brought in some new blood, with Enzo Fernandez getting his first start, although Nico O’Reilly had to be pulled during warmups for a back issue. Maresca doesn’t think it’s serious, which is a relief. He was stoked for Ayyoub and Ndiaye getting their first home games in front of the faithful, and gave a shout-out to young Ryan McAidoo, too. Bouaddi also came on during a tough stretch in the final minutes, and the manager is convinced the youngster will only improve with time.
Speaking of time, Maresca stressed that his new players, who mostly arrived just a week or 10 days ago, absolutely need time on the grass to get used to his tactics. But some things don’t need time: Erling Haaland scoring goals. Maresca called Haaland’s strike a “lovely goal” off a “lovely cross” from Antoine Semenyo. He’s confident in Haaland, saying, “the important thing is we create chances for him and we know at the end he is going to score goals.” Three wins from three to start the Premier League season is awesome, but Maresca understands it’s not just about pretty performances. Sometimes, as he put it, “you also need some ugly moments, you also need that kind of win.” He wants everyone to chill on judging new signings by price tag alone, noting that “the market is a bit crazy.” The real game is about enjoying, working, learning, and improving. It’s only September, and City are showing they can win in any way imaginable.
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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