Enzo Maresca Confident Manchester City Can Reach PSG’s Level Despite Champions League Loss

Despite a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca remains optimistic about his team's progress. He believes the gap between the English club and the European giants is shrinking after his side's spirited second-half effort.

PSG's Early Dominance Sets the Tone

The reigning European champions overwhelmed City in the first half, scoring three goals with two arriving within just two minutes. This rapid succession left City trailing and forced them into a difficult chase during the rest of the match.

Still, City fought back strongly after halftime. Erling Haaland led the comeback with two second-half goals as City relentlessly attacked, firing off 27 shots throughout the game. Their efforts, though impressive, could not undo the early damage done by PSG.

Maresca Sees Progress Beyond the Scoreline

"I think we are there, my feeling is we are close," Maresca told reporters. "It was a strange game because we conceded two goals in two minutes which caused problems for us. Before the first goal we didn’t concede anything, then the second came quickly. In the second half we did enough to deserve something more."

Maresca insists the first half does not fully reflect how competitive the game was and focuses on the team's strong response after going behind.

PSG Manager Luis Enrique Admits His Side Got Lucky

According to Maresca, PSG boss Luis Enrique admitted after the match that his team was fortunate to secure the win against City's pressure.

"Luis told me at the end they have been quite lucky," Maresca revealed.

Maresca also acknowledged PSG’s stature, noting their consistent dominance over the past two seasons.

"In the last two years they have been the best team in Europe, winning almost all their games in this competition," he said.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Manchester City will return to Premier League action hosting Ipswich Town on October 17, 2026, at 17:00.
• Paris Saint-Germain continue their Ligue 1 campaign against Strasbourg the same day at 18:15, preparing for their next Champions League clash versus Barcelona.

City now look to recover from this setback and focus on domestic challenges before shifting attention back to European contests.