Iliman Ndiaye believes Manchester City would have beaten Paris Saint-Germain in their phenomenal battle at the Etihad Stadium if Enzo Maresca’s side had performed in the first half as they did in the second.
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Paris Saint-Germain started the game flawlessly and established a three-goal lead in the opening 32 minutes through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha, leaving Enzo Maresca desperately looking for answers.
While a 2-4 defeat ultimately ensued, with PSG’s fourth goal being scored by Maghnes Akliouche, Erling Haaland managed to pull two goals back in a largely impressive second-half display from the home side.
In securing his brace, Haaland reached 60 goals in the competition and climbed to seventh on the UEFA Champions League’s all-time scorers list, overtaking Ruud van Nistelrooy, while bypassing Sergio Aguero to become Manchester City’s leading European scorer.
Man City could have won the game without first-half meltdown, insists Ndiaye
Iliman Ndiaye was one of three substitutes made by Enzo Maresca at half-time in a wretched act that ultimately paid huge dividends by the time German referee Sven Jablonski blew the full-time whistle.
The 26-year-old attacker, who joined Manchester City from Everton in a deal worth £65 million on deadline day in the recent summer transfer window, replaced Jeremy Doku and injected energy into a withering side up to that point.
Despite his influence, City still dropped points as their impressive unbeaten run came to an end, but there were plenty of positives to take from the second-half, and Ndiaye expressed confidence that his side could have won the game were it not for their first-half collapse.
“Of course you have to be clinical. Obviously, you have to be focused as well from the beginning. I feel like if we don’t concede these three goals, we go and win the game,” the attacker told TNT Sports.
Ndiaye reveals Maresca pride following second-half resurgence
Following Pep Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad Stadium club at the end of last season, the consensus was that Manchester City had lived their greatest days and any incoming manager would struggle to live up to the standards that Pep Guardiola created during his decade in east Manchester.
And while Enzo Maresca is obviously a far shot off emulating the success that the Catalan icon brought, a hugely positive start to the season has painted a fruitful picture for Manchester City fans.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Iliman Ndiaye revealed that the Paris Saint-Germain defeat made him realise that Manchester City can go and win any game, while announcing that Enzo Maresca seemed proud following the effort that his players put in.
“I feel he was proud of the way we reacted [after half-time]. He wanted us to attack, be braver, take chances, try and win. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, but take that second-half performance, and I feel like we just go and win any game,” Ndiaye said.
Manchester City now face an easier patch of games, starting with home meetings against Ipswich in the Premier League and AEK Athens in the Champions League, before eventually facing back-to-back fixtures against Napoli and Arsenal at the end of November.