This story was last updated on 17 September 2026. Manchester City sit on six points from six after victories over Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, yet Erling Haaland’s frank assessment of life under Enzo Maresca remains the defining line from the opening weeks of the season. The Norwegian says City are winning without yet playing to their full potential, and that admission still shapes how supporters should read this perfect start.
H2: September update: Haaland reflects on perfect Premier League start
City’s perfect record stands after Friday night’s 4-1 win at Selhurst Park, a result that followed the opening-day victory over Bournemouth. Haaland scored twice, Rayan Cherki scored twice, and the scoreline flattered a City performance that Haaland himself described as a work in progress.
Haaland opened the scoring after 17 minutes. Cherki added two goals after the break before Haaland completed the rout with five minutes remaining. Two wins from two league games is exactly the start Maresca wanted, even if the manner of the win told a more complicated story.
H2: Perfect results disguise ongoing tactical adjustment under Maresca
Six points from six is the kind of start that usually silences debate about a new manager’s methods. Instead, Haaland used his post-match comments to remind everyone that City are still adapting to Maresca’s demands, even as the results keep coming.
Asked about the process of settling into a new system, Haaland was candid. “We have to keep on playing together and find out where we are best and how to play,” he said. It is not the language of a squad that feels fully formed, despite sitting top of the pile on points.
Haaland also pointed to the depth of talent Maresca has to manage. “We have so many good players, and we have to fit everyone in,” he said, acknowledging that fitting a squad of City’s quality into one coherent shape takes time, regardless of the scoreline.
H2: Erling Haaland Man City admission highlights need to trust Maresca
Haaland’s Man City admission is straightforward: despite the perfect start, he believes the squad has not yet found its best form under Maresca and needs patience to get there. He was clear that the answer lies in trusting the manager’s process rather than reading too much into the early results.
“We know what to do and need to trust the system and trust Enzo in what he wants us to do,” Haaland said, framing the current spell as one of adjustment rather than concern. For a forward with his pedigree to speak in those terms after a 4-1 win says something about how seriously the dressing room is treating the transition.
Haaland was also keen to credit the collective effort in south London. “It’s a right step in the right direction from everyone,” he said, striking a tone that mixed satisfaction with the result and honesty about how far there is still to go. Supporters can find Erling Haaland’s initial post-match comments for the full context of what he said immediately after the final whistle.
H2: What happens next for Maresca’s Manchester City
Part of Haaland’s optimism comes from the contribution of City’s summer signings. He singled out Elliot Anderson for special praise after the Palace win, calling his display outstanding and pointing to it as evidence of what the squad can build towards. “Elliot was incredible. We have to build on this,” Haaland said.
Anderson arrived as one of several new faces this summer, and his early form is a useful marker of how the rebuilt squad is bedding in under Maresca. Anyone wanting the full picture of who else has come through the door can check our coverage of summer transfer window activity.
Haaland’s message for the weeks ahead is simple: give the process time. “We’ll be back, we just need a few games,” he said, suggesting he expects City’s performances to catch up with their results rather than the other way around. With six points already banked, Maresca has the breathing room to keep refining his system without the pressure of a poor start hanging over him.
For the wider picture heading into the next round of fixtures, including team news and injury updates, supporters can follow the latest City news round-up. If Haaland’s admission proves accurate, the version of Manchester City that beat Palace 4-1 may only be a rough draft of what Maresca is building towards.
