Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City faced off this Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium for the second matchday of the 2026-2027 Champions League league phase. The encounter ended in a 4-2 victory for the Parisian side. Following the match, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca spoke at a press conference.
Maresca: “In the second half, we put in a performance that deserved a better result.”
A wild match?
It was a somewhat strange game—largely because we conceded two goals in the span of two minutes, which created problems. Before that, we hadn’t allowed any chances, but things changed after that. In the second half, we performed well enough to have earned a better outcome.
What are the takeaways?
It depends on which half you look at. We started very well, but the goals caused issues, and PSG were much better. In the second half, we created a great number of chances; we need to build on that.
Maresca: “We lacked balance. We made changes at halftime.”
How do you explain the two contrasting halves?
As I said, conceding two goals in two minutes makes things very difficult. It’s already a tough challenge at 0-0 against a side like this. We lacked balance. We made changes at halftime, and we were much better afterward.
What did you say, and what did you change?
I pointed out that we had lost our balance because of the goals. I also emphasized that against a team of this caliber, you have to be tight and play with greater intensity. We also made some tactical adjustments in our attack.
Maresca: “Luis Enrique was honest after the match and told me they got a bit lucky.”
Could your second-half performance give PSG something to think about if you were to face each other again?
I enjoy playing against Paris; they are brave, they press, and they are dynamic. I like that. But I think we’re right there; we’re close. We suffered because of the two goals—and we know it’s already a tough task. In the second half, we created enough chances to get something out of the game. Luis Enrique was honest after the match and told me they got a bit lucky (smiles).
Too much pressure?
No, I don’t think so, honestly.
Maresca: “They play fantastic football.”
Does a night like this help you learn things about your players?
You can learn a lot from a night like this. That even after conceding two goals against the best team in the world, we have to stick to our philosophy. The feeling is that we are in a good place right now.
What was the most impressive thing about PSG?
For the past two years, they’ve been the best team in Europe. They’ve won almost every match. They play fantastic football. They are very dynamic, very aggressive. You can clearly see what they’re trying to do.
Did you expect PSG to be this strong?
Yes, honestly. I watched their match on Saturday; a lot of their players were rested. We were at Anfield. That’s not an excuse, though. We always want to improve. I expected that level of performance; they are a very good team.
