Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca insists he is taking the season one week at a time despite a 100 percent start across competitions. Following a dramatic late Premier League win over Bournemouth, a Carabao Cup rout of Norwich City, and a Champions League victory at Porto, Maresca rejects talk of long-term titles.
Enzo Maresca Guards Against Early Euphoria Amid a Perfect Start
Manchester City’s opening stretch of the 2026/2027 campaign has brought unbroken wins, yet the manager refuses to look past the immediate fixture list.
Enzo Maresca stated that no, he was not looking ahead, and the reason was that he had said it many times that he did not think further than one week at a time, and because he knew that in this job many things could change in just a week.
Enzo Maresca, Manchester City Manager, via Mancity.com
The former Leicester City and Chelsea boss took over at the Etihad Stadium with clear eyes about the volatility of elite management, noting that when he started the season, he was not thinking about where the team would be after six or seven matches. Emphasizing a step-by-step approach that prioritizes the next opponent over any trophy talk, Maresca explained his philosophy from day one had been to focus on Arsenal, then Bournemouth, and subsequent opponents.
Late Heroics and Emotional Scenes at the Etihad Against Bournemouth
The demanding reality of Maresca’s Premier League debut as City manager played out in front of 60.645 supporters at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Bournemouth stunned the home side by taking an early lead through Marcus Tavernier during the first half.
City responded with sustained second-half pressure, turning the match around in the dying moments through goals from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol. Maresca admitted the dramatic 2-1 comeback victory carried deep personal significance, calling it an emotional moment and a perfect day following a supportive reception from the fans.
Enzo Maresca reflected that honestly, it was a perfect day, adding that he was very happy when the match started and he saw the banner on the other side of the pitch, and that he was also glad when it all ended, being able to give them the joy of three points, concluding that it was very emotional and a perfect day.
Enzo Maresca, Manchester City Manager, via VIVA
The Italian coach noted that while his team created enough chances to settle the contest long before stoppage time—stating that the match did not need to run for eight additional minutes given the opportunities created—the collective persistence proved the resilience of the squad. He highlighted that Bournemouth failed to register a single shot on target after the interval until the 80th minute, affirming that his side fully deserved the victory while maintaining that the squad’s work remains an ongoing process.
Continental Dominance at Estadio do Dragao
Translating domestic momentum to Europe, Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Erling Haaland sealed the three points with a brace, scoring in the 47th minute and again during stoppage time at 90+1 minutes.
Maresca pointed to the disciplined structure of his team across the entire fixture as evidence of growing tactical maturity. He stated that it was a perfect performance both in possession and without it for 95 minutes, highlighting how the side handled a notoriously difficult away atmosphere and dealt with the high level of Portuguese football.
Enzo Maresca noted that Porto played very well and that Francesco did a fantastic job, but that they managed to overcome it and win the match.
Enzo Maresca, Manchester City Manager, via Ligaolahraga.com
While acknowledging the tactical work done by Porto, Maresca emphasized that his side’s aggressive approach without the ball allowed them to dictate terms. The manager remains focused purely on the immediate horizon, shifting attention directly toward preparing for Sunderland.
| Competition | Opponent | Result | Key Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | Bournemouth | 2-1 | Marc Guehi, Josko Gvardiol |
| Carabao Cup | Norwich City | 5-0 | Pesta gol / Squad rotation |
| Champions League | FC Porto | 2-0 | Erling Haaland (2) |
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