Enzo Maresca has stood by two of his leaders. After Manchester City lost their first Premier League game of the season, the City head coach said he is not worried about defender Marc Guehi, and he defended goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma too.
City lost 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday. Until then they had won every league game under Maresca.
How the game at Villa Park went
Nicolas Jackson put Villa ahead after six minutes. Guehi failed to control a high ball played out from the back, and Jackson was quick to punish him.
Guehi was booked in the first half and did not come out for the second. Erling Haaland headed City level in the 52nd minute, but Jackson scored again on the hour, and Villa held on.
It was another hard afternoon for Guehi. A week earlier he gave away a penalty in City’s win over Ipswich.
“I’m not worried about Marc at all”
Maresca said the half-time change was his own choice. “It’s just a technical decision, like it happens in all the games that the manager decides to make a change,” he said after the game.
He also pointed to the yellow card. City like to press high, and he said one booking can be dangerous for a defender in that kind of game. “But I’m not worried at all,” he added.
Maresca felt City deserved more. He said they created enough chances and were not clinical in the Villa box.
Donnarumma and a few days off
On Tuesday Maresca was asked about Donnarumma, whose work with his feet has been questioned this season. “He is making some mistakes, but it’s part of the season,” Maresca told reporters. “He knows when he makes some mistakes. He doesn’t need us to tell him.”
He said he was “completely happy” with Guehi and called him a leader. Both players were among five who got three days off after the Villa game, so they could get their energy back.
City play Brighton at home in the fourth round of the League Cup tonight. Second-choice goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli is expected to start. The two teams meet again in the Premier League on Saturday.
Our take
Maresca is doing the right thing in public. Guehi and Donnarumma are senior players in his squad, and criticising them after one defeat would help nobody.
Still, Guehi has now made big mistakes in two league games in a row. A few days off may clear his head. If the errors keep coming, Maresca will have to think about it again.
The cup tie tonight gives City a quick chance to move on, and Saturday’s league game against the same opponent will show how they react.
Should Maresca keep Guehi in the team on Saturday, or give him a rest? Tell us in the comments.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Enzo Maresca by Timmy96 (CC0), Gianluigi Donnarumma by MichaelEmilio (CC BY 4.0), Marc Guehi by Bryan Berlin (CC BY-SA 4.0), Etihad Stadium by Hassocks5489 (CC0).