Emotional Enzo Maresca reflects on winning start as Manchester City manager

[p]For more than ⁠80 minutes on Sunday, the doubts surrounding [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]City's[/a] post-[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guardiola-pep/hxNijWrJ/"]Pep Guardiola[/a] future appeared well founded as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] led [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bournemouth-OtpNdwrc/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/?mid=ILLvry8r"]at the Etihad Stadium[/a] and threatened to spoil the start of a new era.[/p][p]The backdrop ‌to this season has been one of uncertainty, with Guardiola's departure ending a decade of unprecedented success in which City won ‌six Premier League titles and finally conquered Europe as part of a historic treble in 2022-23, ‌while the exits of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and John Stones left [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maresca-enzo/nJsvYDRG/"]Maresca[/a] with a squad searching for its new ‌identity.[/p][image alt="Player ratings" id="aa3a364a-5334-4a88-b272-3de48c15feb1" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8fc34714-6962-4ec9-a04c-c959a08a6f2e" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]But City produced the sort of late surge that became a hallmark of the Guardiola ‌years, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guehi-marc/KEeklutO/"]Marc Guehi[/a] equalising in the 84th minute before Josko Gvardiol struck a stoppage-time winner in a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory.[/p][p]Erling Haaland, fresh from a World Cup that elevated him to cult-hero status and sporting a newly shaved head after ‌ditching his trademark blonde locks, endured a frustrating afternoon in front ⁠of goal, including a glaring early miss from Nico ‌O'Reilly's inviting cross.[/p][p]City, however, grew into the game, finishing with 13 shots to Bournemouth's five and monopolising possession for ​long spells.[/p][p]Their persistence was finally rewarded when Guehi powered home a corner six minutes from time. Then in the 91st minute, substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cherki-mathis/vm0eu2V3/"]Rayan Cherki[/a] poked a clever pass through the ​Bournemouth defence and Gvardiol swivelled before slotting home. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, only for VAR to overturn the decision and send the Etihad into celebration.[/p][embed guid="faea6fdf-12a3-4e57-9941-7d6107d06e67" url="https://x.com/ManCity/status/2091546194732347602" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'Fantastic spirit'[/h2][p][b]"The spirit was fantastic," [/b]Maresca ⁠said.[/p][p]A giant "Welcome Back Enzo" banner had ​greeted the new boss, once Guardiola's assistant at City, before kickoff and the Italian admitted the ending made for an emotional occasion.[/p][p][b]"It's the perfect day, to be honest. The perfect day,"[/b] he said.[b] "I was pleased at the end because we give the fans the joy of the three points. I have to say that ‌was quite emotional."[/b][/p][p]Maresca hailed the impact of Cherki, whose introduction midway through the second half helped transform the game.[/p][p][b]"The impact was unbelievable," he said. "He's that kind of player."[/b][/p][p]Maresca smiled when asked about Cherki's game-changing cameo, saying the French forward had never been shy about showing his frustration when left out of the starting 11.[/p][p][b]"If he's (sitting) next to me and he's not happy, you all realise that he's not happy, because he's doing anything just to show everyone that he's unhappy,[/b]" Maresca said.[/p][p]Asked if Cherki may start in the near future, he said: "Absolutely."[/p][h2]Key players still building fitness[/h2][p]The City manager also pointed to the fact that several key players -- Haaland, Guehi, Cherki, O'Reilly, and Elliott Anderson -- only returned around 10 days ago following ‌the World Cup.[/p][p]"Unfortunately, we are still four, five players that for them, it's pre-season," Maresca said. "So it's ​a huge difference in terms of physicality. But we are going to be better and ‌better."[/p][p]Maresca also moved Guehi, normally a centre back, into the midfield.[/p][p][b]"It's just in this moment, to find a solution," [/b]he explained. [b]"I know Marc from Palace, and I always thought that he could be a good midfielder. Overall, it was a good performance from him.[/b][/p][p]"Unfortunately (the squad) is a work in progress," he added. "That's why I'm looking for new solutions, different things."[/p][p]One game into the new ⁠era, City may not have looked like the ⁠all-conquering force of the Guardiola years, but ‌they showed enough resilience, quality and belief to suggest predictions of their decline may prove premature.[/p]