Enzo Maresca Praises Squad Depth After European Win
Enzo Maresca walked away from a gruelling European night convinced his side had passed a major test of character – and hinted the scoreline could easily have been far more comfortable.
The Italian, speaking after the away win, praised the collective steel of his squad and the depth that allowed him to rotate without losing control of the contest.
“I think we could've scored more goals, especially in the first half, but overall I think we deserved to win the game,” he told Amazon Prime. “We created enough chances to win the game. We didn't concede a lot. It's normal to come here and concede some chances because it's normal, so overall happy with the performance.”
For Maresca, the night underlined the luxury he feels he has at his disposal.
“I think I am lucky because all the squad is good players,” he said. “For a manager it is easy because you can give minutes to all of them, and tonight I think the guys that were inside were very good.”
Bouaddi steals the spotlight
Amid the senior figures and the hostile atmosphere, one teenager refused to blink.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, lining up alongside Enzo Fernandez, delivered the kind of composed performance that usually belongs to seasoned internationals, not a youngster still making his way in the game. Maresca did not hide his admiration.
“The good thing is that from Erling [Haaland], Ruben [Dias], Mateo [Kovacic] you expect how to manage this game,” he said. “But he was never in panic, Ayyoub Bouaddi. He was very good and I think the performance was unbelievable.”
Bouaddi had already turned heads in training. By the time he stepped onto the pitch in Porto, the dressing room knew what he could do.
Erling Haaland, who has watched the teenager closely in recent weeks, revealed just how highly he rates him – with a playful sting in the tail.
“I think he played a very good game,” Haaland said. “Last couple of weeks in training, I told the chairman that he has been amazing, so I think we have a gem here.
“But to be honest, I think he should of played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit angry, so I will tell him right now, he played a good game, except that pass.”
On a demanding European night, that is the standard now: play brilliantly, earn lavish praise, and still get reminded you missed the chance to feed one of the most ruthless strikers in the world.
