Enzo Maresca Says PSG Coach Luis Enrique Felt They Were Lucky in Champions League Win Over Man City
Manchester City faced a tough night at the Etihad Stadium, hosting defending Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for their second group stage match of the 2026/27 season. After a strong start to the campaign with a 2-0 away win at Porto, City hoped to continue their winning streak in Europe.
Instead, PSG took control early on and cruised to a 4-2 victory, holding a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime. Although City fought back in the second half with two goals, it was not enough to challenge the visitors' dominance.
PSG's Clinical Performance
The two-time reigning European champions showcased an impressive attacking display, scoring four goals against City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Both Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele contributed a goal and an assist each, while Manuel Akliouche and Vitinha also found the net for the home side.
City responded through Erling Haaland, who scored twice. Despite firing 27 shots and controlling possession in PSG’s penalty area (52 touches compared to PSG’s 17), City's efforts lacked precision, with only nine shots on target. Their chance creation failed to convert as efficiently as PSG’s.
Maresca Reveals Luis Enrique’s Surprising Comment
After the game, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca shared that PSG coach Luis Enrique told him his team had been fortunate to score so many goals during the match.
“We struggled in the first half because we conceded two goals, and when you are inside the pitch, you know that it's already difficult against them, and then you are thinking 'oh my god we are 2-0 down now,' so it becomes even more difficult,” Maresca said. “But the second half I think we created enough chances, and we deserve something more, to be honest. But Luis [Enrique] also at the end told me at the end that they had been quite lucky during the 95 minutes, but again we lost and we can learn from that and move on.”
Supporting this view, PSG’s four goals came from just 1.83 expected goals, highlighting some fortune in finishing. Still, their clinical play stood out, especially Desire Doue’s setup for Dembele and Vitinha’s midfield brilliance.
