Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca spoke at length after his side's 4-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
Man City were handed a first defeat of the 2026/27 season by PSG on Wednesday night.More Videos
Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé scored PSG's first two goals within the opening quarter of an hour, and Vitinha made it 3-0 before half-time.
Erling Haaland scored twice after the break, with his first coming shortly after the restart from a cross by substitute Iliman Ndiaye. Maghnes Akliouche added PSG's fourth between the Norway international's goals, with Haaland's second finishing the scoring at 4-2.
Haaland's goals took him past Sergio Agüero as Manchester City's leading scorer in the Champions League. The striker had also scored in the 3-0 win at Anfield, and has now scored in each of City's last two matches.
Maresca and Manchester City entered Wednesday's game unbeaten in all competitions this season, with the European champions inflicting City's first defeat of the 2026/27 campaign.
The game came in the middle of a difficult period off the pitch for the club. An independent commission published its opinion on September 29, finding City guilty on 114 of 115 charges of breaching the Premier League's financial rules during 2009-18 and the club lodged a comprehensive appeal on October 1.
Maresca's side had responded with a 3-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday, which kept them top of the Premier League and unbeaten in the league. Ahead of the PSG game, Maresca described the opposition as the best team in Europe, noting that they had won the last two Champions League titles.
When you concede two goals in two minutes, it becomes even worse: Maresca breaks down PSG defeat
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, Maresca said: "I think we started quite good until the first goal we conceded. And then we conceded the second one after one minute and probably that created a little bit of a bad feeling. So first-half we struggled.
"And in the second-half, I think we were much, much, much better and probably we deserved even something more. It was a bit strange to be honest, because I think until the first goal we started quite good, we were in the game, we created something, we didn't concede nothing.
"Then we conceded the first one and after one minute or two minutes, we conceded a second one. It's already difficult, but then when you concede two goals in two minutes, it becomes even worse.
"But at half-time we adjusted something, we didn't lose the balance, and I think second-half we created enough to deserve something more. You have to be clinical when you have chances, but especially you don't have to lose the balance."
Maresca then sent a message to the Manchester City supporters, adding: "We feel sorry for the first-half, for sure. Then second-half I think they were quite happy. But now, Saturday, it's a Premier League game [against Ipswich] and we need to continue our run."
Maresca: I really like to play PSG; my feeling is we are there, we are close!
In his post-match press conference, Maresca said: "[Against] these kind of teams, if you don't got toe-to-toe, you'll struggle. You have to be brave, you have to go, and in the second-half we were even more in terms of off the ball, pressing, and on the ball also we made some adjustments.
"I really like to play PSG, to be honest! They're brave, I know the way they want to press, they go, they don't care, man-to-man all over the pitch. On the ball they're quite dynamic! I like to play them! I think we're there, to be honest. My feeling is we are there, we are close!
"The reason why, for me, we struggled first-half is because we conceded two and when you're inside the pitch you know it's already difficult against them, then you think, 'Oh my God! We are 0-2 down now!' So it becomes even more difficult! But second-half we created enough to deserve more, to be honest... We lost, we can learn, and move on!"
Manchester City host Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 17 October in the Premier League, with kick-off at 15:00 UK.