Amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding the club’s financial conduct, Manchester City supporters found a reprieve on the pitch as their team secured a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town. The win extended City’s perfect start to the campaign, marking a historic achievement for manager Enzo Maresca. Except highly paid lawyers and the inflatable fruit industry, there have been few winners in Manchester City’s guilty verdict. But they put up a fight in City’s first home Premier League game since being found to have breached financial rules, ipswich were the latest victims. “I didn’t expect to win seven out of seven, but we are working well,” Maresca said. “This is the most important thing.”. But without truly threatening as they struggled to find space in the lowest of blocks, expertly organised and fully disciplined, gary O’Neil put 11 men behind the ball whenever the hosts ventured over the halfway line as City enjoyed 90% possession in the opening quarter-hour. With Ayyoub Bouaddi creating it from defensive midfield in another mature performance from the teenager making his first Premier League start, maresca had made six changes to refresh the side and it took time to understand one another’s rhythm. It was inevitable what was coming as there was irrefutable evidence that City were dominant. “I know him from years ago, for me he’s one of the best Premier League players,” Maresca said. “Since day one, it’s my duty to help him to be again one of the best players. I’m very happy for his goal and hopefully it can be just the beginning of many goals and many good performances.”. The singalongs and inflatables, there was an element of pantomime around the ground from the booing of the Premier League anthem. Allowing the Ipswich man to latch on to a sublime curved through ball from Abdoul Ouattara and equalise two minutes after the opener, it was fitting Marc Guéhi did not know Maeda was behind him. As reward for an impressive team performance, leaving O’Neil upset Ipswich departed with nothing, farai Hallam reviewed footage of Guéhi taking out Abdul Fatawu in the area and Flemming did the rest in the 90th minute. “They’re an incredible group,” he said. “Players giving everything. But Christian Walton could not keep it out, palming the ball from one hand to the other and into the net before Haaland was serenaded with the clap of bananas, the header lacked power.
Maresca has now become the first manager in Premier League history to triumph in each of his first seven games in charge. Reflecting on the result, the manager expressed surprise at the perfect run, noting that the team is focused on maintaining their current momentum.
The match saw local favorite Phil Foden open the scoring with a precise strike following skillful work by Jérémy Doku.
While Ipswich responded quickly through a Daizen Maeda goal, Erling Haaland re-established the lead for the hosts. Who were able to see local boy Phil Foden instigate the triumph with a kiss of the badge, before an emblem of their wealth, Erling Haaland, secured the points to move six clear, albeit with a few scares between, courtesy of Daizen Maeda and Zian Flemming, defiance has fortified most of the City fanbase.
Haaland eventually added a second goal, moving City clear, though Ipswich remained competitive throughout.
A late penalty converted by Zian Flemming, awarded after a review of a challenge on Abdul Fatawu, narrowed the deficit, but City held on despite being left frustrated by an unexpected 12 minutes of added time.
City’s squad depth was tested as several players, including Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Nico O’Reilly, picked up injuries during the contest. Maresca noted he was uncertain about the extent of these fitness issues ahead of their upcoming fixture against AEK Athens.
Key milestones from the fixture include
- Enzo Maresca is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games while leading a team.
- Manchester City are only the third side to start a Premier League season with seven consecutive victories, following Chelsea in 2005-06 and Liverpool in 2019-20.
- Erling Haaland reached a century of non-penalty Premier League goals in just 139 appearances, breaking the previous record of 150 matches set by Alan Shearer in 1996.
Despite the off-field tension surrounding the club, the fanbase maintained a defiant atmosphere, filling the ground with songs and inflatable props. Maresca praised the squad’s character, particularly emphasizing his commitment to helping key players like Foden return to their best form. Ipswich manager Gary O’Neil expressed pride in his players’ work rate and discipline, despite leaving the stadium without points from the encounter.
Important Details
- With Manchester City maintaining their 100% record, Enzo Maresca is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a team.
- After Liverpool in 2019-20 (first 8) and Chelsea in 2005-06 (first 9), manchester City are the third team to win their opening seven games of a Premier League season.
- Reaching this milestone in fewer appearances than any other player (139). The previous fewest was 150 appearances, by Alan Shearer in, erling Haaland (pictured) has now scored 100 non-penalty goals in the Premier League.
