Maresca Addresses Haaland Focus and Foden's Suspension

Maresca bristles at Haaland focus as he backs 10-man City and reflects on Foden fallout

Enzo Maresca has little time for the idea that Sunday’s derby hinged on one controversial moment at Old Trafford.

The debate has raged over Erling Haaland’s goal against Manchester United, but the Manchester City manager was in no mood to reduce a chaotic afternoon to a single flashpoint – not after his side spent the bulk of it a man down.

“To talk about one moment after that game when we played for 70, 75 minutes with 10 players is quite poor,” he said. “I think the performance was unbelievable and I’m pleased.”

City’s resilience with 10 men clearly matters more to him than any VAR freeze-frame. The narrative, as he sees it, is about effort and control under duress, not just a still image of Haaland in front of goal.

Old wounds at Old Trafford

If United felt aggrieved this time, Maresca was quick to remind everyone that City have their own grievance banked from a previous derby.

He pointed back to 2023, when Marcus Rashford was ruled not to be interfering with play in a highly contentious United goal against City – a decision that still rankles.

“Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you,” he said. “Three years ago when I was here happened the exact same against Manchester United. The goal was not a regular goal and no one apologised. We are still waiting for the apology for that.”

No rant, no raised voice, just a pointed memory. If there is an apology coming, Maresca clearly isn’t expecting it any time soon.

Foden’s red card and the cost of a rush of blood

The derby also left a more tangible problem: Phil Foden’s red card.

At the interval, Maresca found a young star wrestling with the consequences of his reaction.

“At half-time he was upset and sad because he knew it was something wrong,” the manager explained. “After the game he was a bit more relieved and happy. Yesterday he was very good. He knows that the reaction was probably not a good one but it is finished and we move on.”

The move-on line sounds firm, but the suspension bites hard. Foden had started brightly before being dismissed, and City must now do without him at a busy point in the calendar.

“It’s a big one,” Maresca admitted. “He was doing well with us. He started quite well before his red card. Now he is out tomorrow against Norwich and for Sunderland and Liverpool. Then he is back again.”

Maresca also conceded he is not yet sure whether the club will appeal the red card. For now, the reality is simple: three matches, no Foden.

Opportunity knocks in the cups

Foden’s absence forces changes, but Maresca insists this is not a night for passengers. Those stepping in, he stressed, will not just be filling gaps for a midweek tie; they will be auditioning for far bigger stages.

“The ones that are going to play, I’m sure that they are going to play important games, in the Premier League or Champions League,” he said. “Now it’s early season with no injuries or suspended players. In November, December, January and February, with the amount of games, we will need rest. The players that are going to play tomorrow, it’s an opportunity for them to get better and better. At some point we need them.”

That is the subtext of his rotation: this is not charity, it is preparation. The League Cup, in his eyes, is not a distraction but another testing ground.

“One more competition. We need to compete in all of the competitions. We will try our best and we will see where we finish.”

No easy nights

Maresca has long said he prefers facing Premier League sides in cup competitions, a stance that might sound counterintuitive in an era when managers often look for the smoothest possible route.

Asked if he still feels the same, he did not hesitate.

“Absolutely. They are all tricky games, different games. We need to do our job in the right way and I have no doubt it will be a tricky game for many reasons.”

No complacency, no downplaying Norwich, Sunderland or anyone else. City walk into another cup tie with a sense of grievance from Old Trafford, a key player suspended, and a manager demanding that his squad prove they are ready for the grind of the season’s hardest months.