Manchester City 3 v 2 Ipswich Town
FA Premier League
Saturday, 17th October 2026 Kick-off 15:00

Maresca: We Completely Controlled the Game
Sunday, 18th Oct 2026 09:54

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca was delighted to become the first boss to win their first seven Premier League games with a club and felt his side completely controlled their 3-2 victory over the Blues.

Town didn’t make it easy for the leaders, who have begun the campaign with a 100 per cent league record, with the result still in doubt until the end of 12 minutes of time added on following Zian Flemming’s 90th-minute penalty.

“First of all, I’m very happy because it’s a matter of winning games in this business so we were able to win seven games in a row,” Maresca said when quizzed on the winning record.

“And then again what has made me very happy is the day by day with the players, the way we are working, the way I can see them improving, doing things.

“I think today we completely controlled the game, created chances, scored goals, we were good off the ball and we are doing well, and this is for me the most important thing.”

With all the noise surrounding City following the independent commission’s guilty verdict regarding their financial infractions, Maresca had praise for the way his players are dealing with the situation.

“Absolutely yes, but also I understand that we give credit to the players,” he said.

“I think the players need to be worried about people inside the club and about me for the credit I give to them and not worried about people that judge them from outside because they know that people are trying to judge them. It’s people that are working, that need to say something, that need to create some problem.

“But inside I promise you that the players are happy, the club gives credit to the players, I give credit to the players, so this for us is the most important thing.”

Similarly, Maresca was pleased with the club’s support, who roundly booed the Premier League anthem prior to kick-off and came along armed with 1980s-style inflatable bananas.

“The environment was very good,” he added. “They just said to me that today was a record in terms of attendance to the stadium [60,817], so it's also a nice feeling.

“But again, I think the fans, the club, the players, we are all together in this journey and this is the best feeling for everyone.”

Photo: TWTD

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Churchman added 10:32 - Oct 18

The man has no class. Never has had.

He needs to remember that when a club ignores all the rules and has limitless money it can buy anyone and everyone. And so they did. With those players my cat could manage them and win the treble every year plus the Champions League. Anything less is a disgrace.

Never liked the pompous ass even when he was stumbling about at Leicester

Bert added 11:07 - Oct 18 Controlled the game yes but certainly not completely. It was the first game on MOTD perhaps because of the noise around City but also because it was a good game to watch. Ipswich played their part.
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PinstripeBlue added 11:47 - Oct 18 They ‘completely controlled the game’ but we still scored 2. Imagine if we just had a little bit of control!!
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mistert added 12:06 - Oct 18 A team that completely controlled the game doesn't concede twice.
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tetchris added 12:24 - Oct 18

They were hanging on at the end, some of their players were injured/limping including Haarland. Don’t think there will be many teams who go to the Etihad and score two goals, not even more established PL teams. I was hoping Chuba would come on and score the winner but alas not to be. Linesmen were bias towards Citeh players. I wasn’t sure about GON when he got he job but one thing you can say where he is better than KM, is that he is not afraid to change systems. Played with three at the back. Outtara is outstanding and he has to play whatever system GON goes with. Sindre not making the bench which is worrying. Still more to come from Philogene after his injury. I can see one or two going out on loan in January (Taylor/Palmer) . Just hope we can keep hold of Outtara until the end of the season and his performances won’t go unmissed by the big 5/6 clubs.

Saxonblue74 added 13:07 - Oct 18

Controlled so much they managed to draw the 2nd half 1-1. Shame they can control games, but can't control their own finances and stay within the laws of the game. Premier league need to make a ruling very very quickly as the situation is becoming farcical. Perhaps the fans won't find the whole thing such a laugh once a proper ruling is enforced, they seem to feel that they will get off lightly but surely they won't?

DavoIPB added 13:13 - Oct 18 Not sure what he is on but first half completely controlled it, second half very even and we played some really good football. Very even second half and but for a slip and harland being Harland would have been 2-2
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Saxonblue74 added 13:59 - Oct 18 Was there ever a question of Fatawu being denied a clear goal scoring opportunity for our penalty? Guehi didn't receive so much as a stern word from the Ref!
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poet added 14:04 - Oct 18 “I think today we completely controlled the game” Yes and dogs never bark and cats never meow.
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RetroBlue added 14:24 - Oct 18 Controlled it in the 2nd half too did you? Who wanted the whistle more at the end then, it wasnt us?
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Fatboy added 16:24 - Oct 18 @SaxonBlue74 I thought the same. Fatawu would certainly have been in a shooting position if he hadn't been fouled. At least the penalty decision was correctly overturned, but I think they overlooked that aspect of it
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thatsbonkers added 16:34 - Oct 18 Controlled the game, like you controlled your finances?
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armchaircritic59 added 18:02 - Oct 18

Certainly what appears to have been happening behind the scenes at City has absolutely nothing to do with EM, he's only been there 5 minutes ( not literally! ). But it's a pity managers in the PL can't at least acknowledge their opponents after a game, however it turned out. I most certainly don't miss Championship football, but I do miss the honesty quite a number of the Championship managers showed after our games last season. Pressures of working in the goldfish bowl of the PL maybe?

Dissboyitfc added 19:54 - Oct 18 Wonder what he’s going to say when they lose? Won’t be many teams that are still in it at 90+ mins going for the win that’s for sure! Well done for a great effort from GON and the players!
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Pauld1 added 20:34 - Oct 18 How have you completely controlled a game in which you concede 2 goals?
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JewellintheTown added 01:57 - Oct 19 A team worth 5 times the value because of rule breaking & playing at home only won 3-2. I'm surprised they're even allowed to play instead of suspending the team until a punishment is given.
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Tractorog added 08:21 - Oct 19 Mancheater City had a second game running thst no one lse knew about and they dominated that one
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SpiritOfJohn added 10:36 - Oct 19

To be consistent with the number of years they cheated, and to punish them for a total lack of co-operation and lack of respect for the integrity of the competition, I hope they get a significant points deduction for each of the next nine seasons. The number of points deducted would have to be enough to prevent them from getting into Europe. They should also face a transfer embargo.

Jugsy added 10:59 - Oct 19

I'm not going to get wound up by his comments, the puff pieces come out of every club every day of the week. It's soap opera stuff.

Where I do feel aggrieved is the shoddy officiating. The three offside calls that weren't, the penalty review (the trigger happy lineo was perfectly sighted, as were the entire stadium who thought it was), I'd argue that Haaland's third goal was a foul based on what the ref was giving City throughout the game. When Anderson came on it was like he was playing on an ice rink. No booking for Guehi when he's raked Fatawu's calf, no booking for Bouaddi when he went over the ball and landed his foot on someone's ankle. The bias in reffing the big clubs particularly at their ground is sickening.

Huge amount of pride for the team and the performance. I genuinely think if that was at Portman Rd, we're taking something from that game.

dogma added 11:39 - Oct 19 .........and there's no financial cheating going on at Man City. Can you see the connection in both comments??
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Monkey_Blue added 14:16 - Oct 19 Realistically 3-2 did flatter us. But so did the win against Fulham. It’s swings and roundabouts. The value of spending nearly £200m 3 seasons after being promoted from league one rather than one full season after is making a real difference.
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churchmans81 added 15:18 - Oct 19 With a squad valued at about £1.5 Billion, I’d suggest they should be controlling games. Let’s see how they fare when in the National League North vs Kings Lynn next season though!
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armchaircritic59 added 17:57 - Oct 19

Jugsy I will hold my hand up and say it looks like I was wrong in saying the offside decisions given against us were correct. The weight of evidence suggests not. However, eventually they did get the penalty decision correct, which is precisely what VAR is there for, as much as I can't stand the thing. As for the possible foul on Outarra for their third. Nope, no foul I've seen it from all angles, Outarra got bullied, fairly, out of it ( who'd have thought it with Haaland! ), and got his feet and legs in a right old tangle. As for the other incidents, you get loads of them during a game, both on you and committed by you. If every single tiny thing was given a foul, we'd probably still be playing now.

Facts are, overall the best team won, but we gave one of the very best club sides in the world a real game. Nothing to be anything but proud of. We just have to wait and see what it really counts for after judgement day on City.

Jugsy added 20:54 - Oct 19

armchaircritic59 - my point about the third goal, if not clear, as that the hand on his shoulder and tug back is given as a foul the majority of the time across the pitch. As for the notion that the other incidents go as much for us as they do against us, not sure want game you took in. Leif Davis got taken down and the freekick given against him for handball when he landed on it, Anderson went over three times at a gust of wind, Bouaddi went over the ball on one of our players ankles, only a freekick. We needed VAR to give us the clearest foul of the day. The match was not officiated in a balanced way.

armchaircritic59 added 00:38 - Oct 21

Jugsy, can't agree, let's just agree to disagree and keep it nice and friendly :) I will just say this. I approach watching games with absolutely no bias, like I was watching two teams I had no vested interested in. I'm not saying you or anyone else doesn't by the way! I appreciate for some that may not be so easy, but I'm a knarly old codger who's seen it all before :)