Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has praised his players for handling a hostile Anfield atmosphere after a 3-0 Premier League win over Liverpool, while suggesting the club’s off field troubles might bring the squad and supporters closer together.
Maresca spoke to Sky Sports after the match and was asked whether Manchester City’s ongoing off field issues could strengthen the bond between the team and its supporters.
“Probably yes, probably no. I don’t know,” the City boss said.
“It can create togetherness with the fans. I said during the week bring the passion, bring the noise and hopefully we can celebrate a win. This is the only thing we can focus on.”
Erling Haaland also reflected on the result, saying: “This is a lovely moment that will stay with us for a long time… I’m so proud of everyone.”
Maresca continued: “After 10-15 years where the organisation is winning titles, doing the right things in terms of winning titles and then this happens it’s not a good feeling for them.”
“There is a process ongoing, this is not the moment,” he added.
He said he could not control matters beyond football. “I can not control things outside football so why stress?” he said. “I stress about gameplan, day by day training sessions but the rest it’s not in my hands.”
The City manager admitted his side found it hard to impose themselves in the first half, especially when Liverpool had possession. “Very difficult circumstances, difficult environment,” he said.
“We struggled first half, we were on the ball but not so much off the ball. Second half we made some adjustments and we were much better. In the build-up we were not doing the right things, second half we were better.”
Maresca also pointed to the challenge of playing at Anfield, where Liverpool’s supporters generated an intimidating atmosphere. He believes his players need to get used to such conditions.
He explained that his team must learn to handle the noise because it will follow them to every away game. “We need to deal with that and make our noise. Our noise is to win games,” Maresca said.
“The feeling at the end of the game with our fans and our noise, that’s a nice feeling and a different noise.”
“It was nice to play this kind of game for the noise, the environment. We need to make our noise and deal with their noise.”
The 3-0 victory gave Manchester City an important Premier League result at Anfield, and Maresca’s message was clear: his team must learn to handle hostile crowds while turning their own support into a source of strength.
