Maresca: Manchester City deserved more after Villa defeat as Bouaddi waits for chance

Enzo Maresca said Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa was not a fair reflection of the match, while insisting he has no concerns about defender Marc Guehi’s recent performances.

Nicolas Jackson scored twice to give Aston Villa victory at Villa Park after Guehi failed to control the ball for the opening goal. John McGinn collected possession and passed to Jackson, who found the net before adding his second goal later in the game.

Guehi was replaced at half-time after receiving a yellow card in the 32nd minute. His mistakes had also contributed to two goals conceded by Manchester City against Ipswich in their previous league match, meaning he has been involved in his side allowing three goals across the past two Premier League games.

However, Maresca told The Guardian: “I am not worried about Marc Guehi at all.”

He added: “I know he has played every minute since the start of the season for us and for the England national team, and that is not easy. But his substitution also came because he had a yellow card.”

Maresca said the decision was partly influenced by his team’s approach. “Given the way we want to play, based on pressing and intensity, having a player on a yellow card can sometimes be a risk,” he said. “But I am not worried at all.”

Manchester City had 15 shots compared with Aston Villa’s eight, but dropped points for the first time in the Premier League this season. Aston Villa scored with their only two efforts on target, while goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made several important saves to preserve his team’s lead during the second half.

“I think we deserved more from this game, considering the number of chances we created and also the chances we allowed the opponent to have,” Maresca said.

“We lost because, probably, we were not clinical enough inside Aston Villa’s penalty area.”

Maresca explains Bouaddi omission

Maresca also explained why Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi was not brought on during the match, saying the club’s midfield requirements had changed from their previous game against Paris Saint-Germain.

“I think it was a little different against PSG,” he said. “I think today we needed midfielders with technical ability, and that is why Cherki and Foden played.”

“But there is no doubt that Ayoub Bouaddi is going to help us. Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson both had a very good game.”

Maresca added: “We have many matches, and Ayoub Bouaddi will certainly get minutes to play.”

His comments were published by The Touchline on X on 24 October 2026.