Erling Haaland and Enzo Maresca Praise Ayyoub Bouaddi After Impressive Manchester City Performance in Porto

Manchester City secured a 2-0 victory against Porto at the Estadio do Dragao in their opening Champions League group stage match. After the game, manager Enzo Maresca and striker Erling Haaland both praised 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who made his first start for the club and stood out with a calm and impressive performance.

Bouaddi Shines on Full Debut

The teenager took control in midfield, completing 54 of 55 passes and making seven recoveries before being replaced by Mateo Kovacic in the 76th minute. Alongside Haaland's two goals in the second half, Bouaddi’s composed display caught the attention of teammates and fans alike, suggesting he is a promising prospect for the future.

Maresca Commends Team and Bouaddi

After the win, Maresca expressed satisfaction with the team’s resilience on a challenging European trip. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said the squad created enough chances to score more goals and defended well overall. The Italian coach was pleased with the quality and depth of his players, saying it makes managing the team easier.

"The good thing is that from Erling, Ruben, Mateo you expect how to manage this game but he was never in panic, Ayyoub Bouaddi. He was very good and I think the performance was unbelievable."

Haaland Calls Bouaddi a ‘Gem’

Before even playing, Bouaddi had already impressed senior City players during training sessions. Haaland highlighted the youngster’s potential but joked about a missed opportunity on the pitch, saying:

"I think he played a very good game. 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 have 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."

Looking Ahead: Manchester Derby

This win continues Manchester City's perfect run with four wins in a row across all competitions. Their strength will be tested soon as they face local rivals Manchester United in the Premier League. Bouaddi’s confident midfield debut boosts his chances of more regular appearances amid a busy autumn schedule.

Upcoming Fixtures:

• 12 Sept 2026, 19:00: FC Porto vs Casa Pia AC (Liga Portugal)
• 13 Sept 2026, 17:30: Manchester United vs Manchester City (Premier League)