Enzo Maresca says Manchester City did not deserve to lose 2-1 to Aston Villa, while insisting he has no concerns about Marc Guehi despite the defender’s involvement in three goals conceded across the club’s past two Premier League matches.
Aston Villa secured victory at Villa Park through a brace from Nicolas Jackson. Guehi was unable to control the ball before Villa’s opening goal, allowing it to run through to John McAtee, who supplied Jackson to finish.
Jackson added a second goal later in the match, while Guehi was replaced at half-time after being booked in the 32nd minute.
The defender had also been involved in the two goals Manchester City conceded against Ipswich. However, Maresca told The Guardian he was not concerned by Guehi’s recent performances.
“I am not worried about Marc Guehi at all,” Maresca said.
“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 was also because he was carrying a yellow card.
“With the way we want to play, based on pressing and intensity, a player being on a yellow card can sometimes create a risk. But I am not worried at all.”
Manchester City had 15 attempts compared with Aston Villa’s eight and dropped points in the Premier League for the first time this season.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made several important saves to preserve his side’s advantage during the second half. Villa scored with their only two efforts on target.
Maresca felt the result did not reflect the balance of the match.
“I think we deserved more from the game, considering the number of chances we created and also the chances we allowed the opponent to have,” he said.
“We lost because, probably, we were not clinical enough inside the Aston Villa penalty area.”
Maresca explains Bouaddi decision
Maresca also addressed why Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi was not given any minutes against Aston Villa.
In comments shared by The Touchline on X, Maresca said the demands of the match were different from Manchester City’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.
“I think against PSG it was a bit different,” he said. “I think today we needed technical midfielders, which is why Cherki and Foden played.”
Maresca added that Bouaddi remained an important part of his plans and would have opportunities to contribute.
“There is no doubt that Ayoub Bouaddi is going to help us. Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson both had a very good game,” he said.
“We have many matches, and certainly Ayoub Bouaddi will get minutes to play.”
The comments were posted by The Touchline on 24 October 2026.
