Manchester City suffered a 4‑2 defeat to Paris Saint‑Germain at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, yet coach Enzo Maresca insisted his side are “close” to the reigning European champions. The match, which saw City take a 3‑0 lead in the first half, ended with the French club holding on for a hard‑won victory.
City’s first‑half performance was explosive. Erling Haaland opened the scoring, followed by two more goals that put the visitors in front of a stunned home crowd. The German striker finished the game with a brace, and the team recorded 27 shots on target, a tally that impressed even the disappointed manager. Despite the early dominance, City were unable to maintain their advantage after the break.
The second half was a different story. PSG regrouped and scored twice in quick succession, turning the game around and securing the win. Maresca described the match as “a bit of a strange game” because the first‑half goals came in rapid succession, which created problems for City. He added that the team deserved more in the second half, noting that they had “done enough to deserve something more.” Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, admitted that his side had been “quite lucky” to survive the onslaught, a sentiment Maresca echoed.
Despite the loss, Maresca remained optimistic about City’s trajectory. He said, “I think we are there, my feeling is we are close,” referring to the gap between the two clubs. Maresca praised PSG’s recent dominance, noting that they have “been the best team in Europe, they won almost all the games in this competition in the last two years.” He suggested that City’s performance, especially after the break, showed they are narrowing that gap.
The result leaves City still in contention for a Champions League spot, but the defeat highlights the challenges they face against top‑tier opposition. With the competition still in its early stages, City will look to rebuild momentum in their next fixtures, aiming to close the distance to the European elite that Maresca believes is within reach.