Maresca Dismisses Controversy After Manchester Derby
Enzo Maresca is not in the mood to let one flashpoint define a derby that pushed his Manchester City side to the limit.
Across town, the debate still rages over Erling Haaland’s controversial goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Maresca, though, is having none of it.
“To talk about one moment after that game when we played for 70, 75 minutes with 10 players is quite poor,” he said, his irritation clear. City had been forced to dig in for most of the contest, yet still found a way to impose themselves. “I think the performance was unbelievable and I'm pleased.”
The message was simple: judge the team on the body of work, not a single decision.
Old wounds, no apology
The Haaland incident stirred up an old grievance. Maresca has not forgotten what happened in the Manchester derby in 2023, when Marcus Rashford was ruled not to be interfering with play in the build-up to a United goal against City – a call that infuriated the blue half of the city.
“Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you,” he said. “Three years ago when I was here happened the exact same against Manchester United. The goal was not a regular goal and no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that.”
No rant, no theatrics. Just a pointed reminder that City have been on the wrong side of controversy before, and nobody in authority came knocking with regrets.
Foden’s flash of red
If the Haaland goal lit up the headlines, Phil Foden’s dismissal in the derby cut right into Maresca’s plans.
“At half-time he was upset and sad because he knew it was something wrong,” the City manager revealed. “After the game he was a bit more relieved and happy. Yesterday he was very good. He knows that the reaction was probably not a good one but it is finished and we move on.”
Foden’s red card has brought a costly suspension at a time when Maresca is trying to build rhythm and continuity.
“It's a big one,” he admitted. “He was doing well with us. He started quite well before his red card. Now he is out tomorrow against Norwich and for Sunderland and Liverpool. Then he is back again.”
City are still weighing up whether to appeal, with Maresca openly conceding he is “not sure” if the club will challenge the decision. For now, he plans without one of his most influential players.
Opportunity knocks in the cup
Foden’s absence forces change, but Maresca sees more than just disruption. He sees a window.
“The ones that are going to play, I'm sure that they are going to play important games, in the Premier League or Champions League,” he said. Early in the season, with the squad largely fresh and intact, he knows this is the moment to spread minutes around before the calendar turns brutal.
“Now it's early season with no injuries or suspended players. In November, December, January and February, with the amount of games, we will need rest. The players that are going to play tomorrow, it's an opportunity for them to get better and better. At some point we need them.”
Norwich arrive in the League Cup with Maresca already looking a few months down the line, aware that the depth he builds now could decide tight nights in winter.
No free hits
For Maresca, the League Cup is no sideshow. It is another stage on which his squad must prove themselves.
“One more competition. We need to compete in all of the competitions,” he said. “We will try our best and we will see where we finish.”
He has never hidden his preference for facing Premier League opposition in domestic cups, a stance he has repeated even as he prepares for a “tricky” tie.
“Absolutely,” he replied when asked if he still wanted top-flight opponents. “They are all tricky games, different games. We need to do our job in the right way and I have no doubt it will be a tricky game for many reasons.”
No complacency, no talk of rotation for its own sake. Just a manager demanding the same edge against Norwich, Sunderland and Liverpool as in a derby at Old Trafford.
The controversy will roll on, the clips will be replayed, and the arguments will fill the airwaves. Maresca, though, has already moved on to the next test – and he expects his players to do exactly the same.
