Enzo Maresca says he and his players can only focus on matters on the pitch while Manchester City appeal against a verdict that found them guilty of 114 charges related to Premier League financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.
They are continuing to show that focus commendably.
It is the first time in 129 years that City have won their first seven games at the start of a league campaign.
They were in the second tier when they last achieved that – in 1897-98.
It is a remarkable achievement in its context, in the midst of an unprecedented period that has left the club’s fate unknown.
Beyond the victory, there were a number of positives for Maresca as his seamless succession of club-great Pep Guardiola continued, including Foden’s first league goal since December and the composed midfield performance of teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi.
However, it may have come at significant cost. After Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes were both forced off with injury, Erling Haaland and substitute Antoine Semenyo both looked to be hobbling towards the end of the match.
Forced to continue playing after City used all their changes, Haaland, who is up to eight league goals this season, headed straight down the tunnel after picking up his knock.
Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca has officially rewritten English football history, etching his name into the record books after leading Manchester City to a hard-fought victory over Ipswich Town.
The gritty, hard-fought victory over Ipswich propelled the Italian tactician past every legendary manager before him, sealing the greatest start to a domestic campaign the top flight has ever seen.
Available records indicated that this flawless start to the domestic campaign has shattered records and surpassed the early exploits of every legendary figure to have graced the English top flight.
Breaking records that have stood for generations. Maresca’s tactical masterclass has not only silenced doubters but firmly established his squad as an unstoppable juggernaut early in the season.
A New King in Town
Against a stubborn Ipswich Town side, Coach Maresca didn’t just secure three points, he secured immortality with his tactical mastermind engineering a perfect, flawless opening to the domestic season, catapulting himself past the historic benchmarks set by the greatest managers ever to stalk a Premier League touchline.
Rewriting The Script
Where footballing icons and legendary icons stumbled in their opening acts, Maresca has soared and the Cityzens’ latest triumph acts as a roaring statement of intent, cementing a flawless run that has left rival tacticians in the dust.
The Italian’s meticulous blueprint has turned Manchester City into an unstoppable, record-breaking juggernaut right out of the blocks and he may soon be playing catch me if you can game with rival teams in the Premiership.
Setting New Premier League Benchmark
Manchester City’s transition into the post-Pep Guardiola era has defied the expectations of those who predicted a decline, as Enzo Maresca achieved a feat never seen before. On Saturday, the former Leicester City boss became the first manager in the history of the competition to win each of his opening seven matches in charge of a single club.
His arrival was met with both intrigue and pressure, given his previous ties to the club as a member of Guardiola’s coaching staff during the 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign. However, Maresca has handled the responsibility with tactical poise, guiding his side to the top of the table with a perfect 21 points.
Silencing Doubters
This historic run has seen City join an elite bracket, becoming only the third club in the Premier League era to start a season with seven consecutive wins, matching the records set by Chelsea in 2005-06 and Liverpool in 2019-20.
According to data provided by Squawka, the perfect seven-game streak included impressive results such as a 1-0 victory away at Manchester United and a dominant 3-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield. These results have silenced critics who questioned whether Maresca was ready for such a high-profile role following his departure from Chelsea in early 2026.
While the club faces ongoing scrutiny regarding off-field matters, the players have remained focused on the pitch, delivering a brand of football that remains unmistakably City in its execution and clinical nature.
Haaland double overcomes Ipswich scare
The record-breaking afternoon at the Etihad was not without its moments of tension, as a resilient Ipswich Town side threatened to spoil the party. Phil Foden had initially put the hosts in front, but the visitors struck back through Daizen Maeda, who outmuscled Marc Guehi to slot past Gianluigi Donnarumma. But the response from the champions was swift and decisive. Erling Haaland took centre stage once again, restoring the lead before the interval with his trademark clinical finishing.
Haaland’s second of the afternoon, assisted by the industrious Iliman Ndiaye, appeared to put the result beyond doubt, but a late penalty from Zian Flemming ensured a nervous finish for the home supporters. Despite the late drama, City held firm through twelve minutes of added time to ensure Maresca’s winning streak remained intact.
Maresca’s journey to this moment has been unconventional, involving a stint in the Championship and a brief, difficult period at Stamford Bridge before returning to the Etihad. His appointment was viewed as a strategic move by the City hierarchy, who were aware of his tactical alignment with the club’s established philosophy.
The early evidence suggests that his familiarity with the squad and his experience under Guardiola have provided the perfect foundation for success. The manager has managed to keep the group motivated and disciplined despite the noise surrounding the club’s financial investigations, which saw fans booing the Premier League anthem before kick-off. –
BBC With Goal,com report
