Enzo Maresca’s plans for the international break, Antoine Semenyo’s willingness to deputise for Erling Haaland and another eye-catching Enzo Fernandez statistic feature in today’s Man City news and talking points.
City head into the three-week break three points clear at the top of the Premier League after Sunday’s 5-3 victory over Sunderland maintained their perfect start.
Maresca to rest and review City’s start
Maresca intends to use the international break to take stock after City’s excellent opening weeks of the season.
His side have won their seven games since the Community Shield defeat against Arsenal, including five from five in the Premier League, victory over Porto in the Champions League and a 5-0 Carabao Cup win against Norwich.
The City boss plans to spend some time resting before going back over those matches and looking at where improvements can still be made.
Sunday provided plenty of material. City scored five and could have had more, but Maresca was unhappy with the ease with which Sunderland scored two of their three goals.
Semenyo happy to provide Haaland cover
Semenyo has said he would have no problem moving into the middle if City need an alternative to Haaland.
The Ghana international scored twice against Sunderland and also has three Premier League assists since joining City, having started all five league games.
Maresca sees the versatile forward as an option through the middle following Omar Marmoush’s move to Tottenham, although Semenyo admitted the idea had apparently reached him from elsewhere.
“I’ve heard about his back-up striker thing. I don’t know where it’s come from!” he said.
“But, yes, if I need to, then I’ll do it. I’ve no problem in doing that.”
Maresca would rather win 1-0 than 5-3
Sunday’s eight-goal game may have been entertaining, but it wasn’t Maresca’s preferred type of victory.
“To be honest, I prefer to win 1-0 than 5-3,” he said afterwards.
City had kept four consecutive clean sheets before Brian Brobbey scored a hat-trick at the Etihad. Fernandez, Rayan Cherki, Semenyo twice and Haaland supplied City’s goals, with the Norwegian’s late strike finally putting the game beyond Sunderland.
Maresca acknowledged there were things his side could have controlled better, particularly after twice seeing first-half leads wiped out almost immediately.
His comments formed part of our look at how City’s increasingly aggressive approach is developing under the new manager.
Fernandez off the mark for City
Fernandez’s ninth-minute free-kick was his first goal since completing his £125m move from Chelsea.
The midfielder was named City’s man of the match after another influential display alongside Elliot Anderson, with the pair starting together for the second successive Premier League game.
Fernandez has now started all three league matches since arriving at the Etihad and was also part of the ten-man side which won the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Fernandez stat highlights City and Chelsea contrast
There was another Fernandez-related number attracting attention on Monday.
City have won all three of their Premier League matches since the Argentina international completed his move, beating Coventry City, Manchester United and Sunderland.
Chelsea have not won in the competition over the same period. They have lost to Arsenal and Brentford either side of a home draw with Hull City.
The statistic does not establish any connection between Fernandez’s departure and Chelsea’s results, but it provides a striking early contrast following one of the biggest transfers of the summer.
City return to Premier League action against Liverpool at Anfield on 11 October.
LIVE! Premier League 2026/27 News, Transfers, Updates & Viral Moments
