Ayyoub Bouaddi logged his first ever Premier League start for City with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town, and what a debut it was! This wasn’t just any win, either. City manager Enzo Maresca simultaneously etched his name into the history books, becoming the first manager in Premier League history to win all seven of their opening fixtures in charge of a club. Bouaddi, a Moroccan teenager, got the nod from Maresca after showing out in a midweek defeat to PSG, having previously only made three top-flight appearances from the bench. Talk about a vote of confidence paying off!
A Thriller That Saw History Made
This game was a total nail-biter. Phil Foden, getting back on the scoresheet for the first time since December 2025, grabbed the opener after 19 minutes. But hold up, Ipswich’s Daizen Maeda wasn’t having it, leveling the score just two minutes later. Then the man, the myth, the legend, Erling Haaland, did what he does best, striking either side of half-time to put City ahead. Ipswich didn’t quit though, with a late Zian Flemming penalty adding to the drama in what became a five-goal thriller. But through all that back-and-forth, Bouaddi was right there in the thick of it, playing a key part in the win. He racked up 92 touches of the ball, won seven ground duels, and dropped seven line-breaking passes. That’s a serious stat line for your first start, isn’t it?
Bouaddi on the Pressure, and What’s Next
After the game, Bouaddi was buzzing, and honestly, who wouldn’t be? He kept it real, saying, “It was really good. I’m really happy because we won the game. Of course everything is good. It was a really tough game against a really good team in Ipswich. They put us in trouble in the second half. We won the game and we are really happy with that.”
He was clearly thrilled to start, adding, “Of course I was really happy [to start]. It’s football, I really like to play the game. I want to play every game. But I know it’s part of the process and I was really happy with the game today.” He even admitted to feeling the heat when Ipswich started to rally, but praised the team’s ability to manage it. “Of course, you have a bit of pressure. You don’t want them to score again, but we managed it really well. And yes, we were really happy with it.” Playing alongside top-tier talent definitely helps, as he pointed out, “It’s easier to play [with players like these], even if sometimes you play a bad pass they can manage everything. They make it successful, so it is a huge honour to play with players like this.” On Foden’s return to scoring, Bouaddi kept it team-first: “You can ask him the question, but I’m sure he’s really happy and we’re really happy he scored the goal. He’s a great player, important player for the team. Everyone is an important player and we all want to play well all of the time.”
Bouaddi’s performance in his debut clearly shows he’s ready for more, and with Maresca making history with this seven-game streak, City looks like a force. This young midfielder is definitely one to watch as the season rolls on.
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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