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Maresca Encouraged by City Display After Inter Milan Win Pre-Season Shootout
Enzo Maresca says he is “very happy” with Manchester City’s display despite a penalty shootout defeat to Inter Milan in his first match as City manager during the Asia pre-season tour.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite losing 3-1 on penalties to Inter Milan following a 1-1 draw in their pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.
Matteo Lavelli converted the winning penalty for the Serie A champions, marking a losing start for Maresca in his first outing since taking charge of City after replacing Pep Guardiola in June.
Despite the result, Maresca focused on the positives from the encounter.
“I’m very happy with the performance,” the City manager said.
“Many positive things, including minutes for the legs, that’s very important.
“Like always, there are things we can do better, but slowly, slowly, we’re going to improve.”
City broke the deadlock after 14 minutes when Antoine Semenyo delivered a cross from the byline for Divin Mubama to finish from close range.
Semenyo continued to trouble Inter’s defence and almost scored himself with a brilliant individual effort before goalkeeper Josep Martinez made the save.
Inter responded shortly afterwards as Benjamin Pavard capitalised on City’s failure to clear a Jamal Iddrissou cross, firing home from inside the penalty area.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in the second half despite creating several chances, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
City twice came close to snatching victory late in the game, with Vitor Reis hitting the crossbar and Ryan McAidoo striking the post.
Maresca admitted his side struggled with pressing in the opening half but praised the improvement after making tactical changes during the interval.
“We were pressing in the wrong way, we conceded some switches of play… because we were late in the pressing,” he explained.
“At half-time we adjusted something, and I think, second half, in terms of pressing, we were much, much better.”
The former Chelsea and Leicester City boss now begins the task of following Guardiola, whose decade at Manchester City produced 20 major trophies.
Nearly 43,000 supporters attended the fixture at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, although sections of empty seats were visible.
City continue their Asian tour without key players Erling Haaland and Rodri, who will also miss upcoming fixtures in Seoul against a K League All-Star side and Atletico Madrid.
The Premier League champions will take on Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16 before opening the new league season against Bournemouth.
Inter will wrap up preparations with friendlies against AC Milan and Juventus before starting their Serie A title defence against Monza on August 22.
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