Man City turned their attention towards Sunderland on Friday after Enzo Maresca’s much-changed side swept Norwich aside in the Carabao Cup.
Jeremy Doku could return on Sunday, Maresca has been discussing City’s impressive start under his management and Floyd Samba is still entitled to be wondering whether Thursday night actually happened.
Here are Friday’s City news and talking points.
Doku could return for Sunderland test
Jeremy Doku could be back against Sunderland after missing the start of the Premier League season with the calf problem he suffered in the Community Shield.
“He can probably be available for the Sunderland game,” Maresca said in his latest injury update.
Maresca is expecting a difficult afternoon against Regis Le Bris’ side, describing Sunday’s game as potentially City’s “toughest” since the start of the season.
Maresca credits his players
City have won their opening four Premier League games as well as beating Porto in the Champions League and Norwich in the Carabao Cup.
Asked why the transition following Pep Guardiola’s departure has gone so smoothly, Maresca’s answer was straightforward: “First of all, the players.”
He believes the squad are increasingly understanding what he wants with and without the ball, despite the changes at the Etihad during the summer.
Samba’s night to remember
Floyd Samba could hardly have asked for much more from his senior debut.
The 17-year-old scored twice as City beat Norwich 5-0 on Thursday night, despite being asked to operate as a No.9 – a position Maresca revealed he had never previously played.
Maresca was impressed by more than the goals, praising Samba’s overall performance after handing him his opportunity.
Allan makes his mark too
Samba was not the only debutant to enjoy himself.
Allan scored and provided an assist on his first City appearance, while Rayan Cherki was also on target before substitute Ryan McAidoo completed the scoring.
The 5-0 victory set up a fourth-round tie with Brighton.
Rotation does its job
Maresca made 10 changes against Norwich after the Champions League trip to Porto and Sunday’s Manchester derby victory at Old Trafford.
“It was very important,” he said. “We gave rest to the ones that played back-to-back 90 minutes against Porto and Manchester United.”
That was one of the challenges presented by City’s five-game September run. Four down, Sunderland to go.
Maresca refuses to look too far ahead
Six wins have followed the Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, but Maresca is not interested in looking much further than the next fixture.
“I am not thinking more than one week ahead,” he said after the Norwich victory.
That approach has taken City through four league games, their opening Champions League fixture and the first hurdle in their Carabao Cup defence. Sunderland are next.
Two years and still no verdict
Away from the pitch, the wait continues for an outcome in City’s long-running Premier League case.
It is now two years since the independent commission hearing began examining more than 100 alleged breaches of the competition’s financial rules. City have consistently denied wrongdoing.
Leading sports barrister Nick De Marco KC, who is not involved in the case, described the length of the wait as a “most incredible delay”.
Our latest update on the Manchester City legal case has more.
And finally… Quinn, Summerbee and Sunderland
Sunday’s opponents have provided plenty of shared history.
Niall Quinn, Nicky Summerbee, Joleon Lescott, Jack Rodwell and Patrick Roberts are among the names in our Man City-Sunderland crossover XI.
Quinn is some connection. He played for both clubs, famously went in goal for City after Tony Coton was sent off against Derby County and later became Sunderland chairman.
For Maresca and his current City side, Sunderland represent the last hurdle in a demanding run of five games in 16 days.
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