Manchester City return from the international break with a perfect league record, top of the table and heading straight for Anfield, where Enzo Maresca’s early authority will face its sharpest test yet against Liverpool.
Why it landed this week
- Manchester City
- Liverpool
- Enzo Maresca
- Pep Guardiola
Maresca was handed the formidable task of succeeding Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, and the opening weeks have brought the sort of start any new manager would take without hesitation: maximum points and first place when the league paused for international duty.
There is, however, rather more surrounding City than the football. The manager must also navigate the scrutiny and controversy around the club, but he sought to draw a firm line between that noise and the work being done on the training pitch.
“Personally, I am very calm, to be honest,” Maresca said after the international players returned to the squad. “The club has been very clear and we have complete trust in what they have said. We understand the attention around it, but what matters to us is what we can control, and that is football.”
Players had spoken during the break about events beyond the pitch, yet Maresca’s message was that the group’s mood remains strong. City are looking ahead to two demanding matches, beginning with Liverpool before a meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, while taking encouragement from their position at the summit.
“The feeling is fantastic,” he said. “We are excited by the next two games, Liverpool and PSG, and especially because we are top of the league.”
For Maresca, the division of labour is simple enough. The wider discussion will continue, as it tends to do around City, but his players know their profession and are not allowing it to dominate their preparation.
“They are focused only on that,” he said. “They know the football side is what we can influence, and other matters are not worrying them at all. They are aware of the noise, but it is not troubling them too much. Right now, they are concentrating on how to beat Liverpool and, together with the supporters, trying to win at Anfield.”
The next fixture
Manchester City travel to Anfield to play Liverpool, with the league leaders aiming to carry their unbeaten start through one of English football’s less forgiving away grounds.
