UCL: Maresca Names Key Reason Man City Lost 4-2 To PSG

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has blamed his side’s loss of balance following two quick goals for their 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.

City suffered their first defeat in eight matches after the French champions secured an impressive victory at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Paris Saint-Germain took control of the encounter with three first-half goals from Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha, leaving the hosts with a difficult task after the break.

Speaking after the match, Maresca said conceding twice within two minutes disrupted his team’s structure and made it difficult to compete against the reigning European champions.

“When we conceded the first goal and then, after one minute, conceded the second one, against this kind of team it is already difficult,” the City boss said.

He added that the early setbacks affected the distances between his players and their overall balance on the pitch.

City struggled to contain PSG’s attacking movement during the opening half, with the visitors taking advantage of spaces in the hosts’ defence.

However, Maresca made three substitutions at half-time, and the changes helped City improve their performance after the restart.

Erling Haaland pulled one goal back in the 53rd minute, but Maghnes Akliouche restored PSG’s three-goal advantage in the 62nd minute.

Haaland struck again in the 75th minute as City continued to push for a comeback, but PSG held on to claim all three points.

Maresca praised his players’ response in the second half, insisting that their improved display deserved a better outcome.

“Second half, we made changes, adjusted something and we were much better,” he said.

The Italian also stressed the importance of learning from the defeat, particularly when facing opponents capable of punishing defensive mistakes.

Despite the setback, Maresca expressed confidence in his team’s progress, saying he believed City were close to matching PSG’s level.

City will now turn their attention to their next fixtures as they seek to recover from the European defeat and maintain their momentum in domestic competition.