Enzo Maresca believes City are improving game by game after maintaining their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 Champions League victory over Porto.
Erling Haaland scored twice at the Estádio do Dragão as City followed their three Premier League wins with victory in Maresca’s first European game in charge.
It means four games and four wins for the new manager, but it was the performance rather than the sequence of results that appeared to please him most.
Maresca sees progress at City
“It was the complete performance on the ball and off the ball for 95 minutes,” said Maresca.
“We created enough chances to win the game in the first half and their goalkeeper was very good.
“We tried to continue in the second half in the same way.”
Maresca has spoken about wanting City to be aggressive without the ball, and there was plenty of that in Portugal. Porto failed to register a shot on target, while City eventually found the breakthrough through Haaland after being frustrated during the opening 45 minutes.
Asked where his team currently are in their development, Maresca was reluctant to get carried away.
“In terms of where we are, I don’t know,” he said. “I can see game after game, the team is improving.”
That will probably do for now.
City have made an excellent start under their new manager, having made it three Premier League wins from three against Coventry before opening their Champions League campaign with another victory.
There are much bigger tests ahead, though, and the first arrives quickly.
City travel to Old Trafford on Sunday for Maresca’s first Manchester derby.
“Now it’s a matter of recovery, and then we prepare for Sunday’s game,” he said.
“I’m very excited for that – but first recovery.”
Four wins from four is about as much as Maresca could have asked for. Old Trafford should tell us a little more.
For updates on City throughout the season, take a look at our LIVE! Premier League 2026/27 News, Transfers, Updates & Viral Moments page.
