Enzo Maresca has admitted that the image of Enzo Fernandez from the outside is “completely different from the reality” as Manchester City prepare to host Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Enzo Fernandez appeared to have pushed referee Sven Jablonski in Man City's midweek defeat to PSG.More Videos
Fernandez has been one of Maresca’s most influential players since joining in a joint-British record £125 million deal from Chelsea - and has appeared six times for the club in all competitions so far.
The 25-year-old has started City’s last four Premier League matches and scored his first goal since his switch - a remarkable free-kick during his side’s 5-3 win over Sunderland a month ago.
The Argentina international also started against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, where Manchester City conceded three goals within 32 minutes before deploying a motivated, but ultimately unsuccessful, resurgence.
Fernandez is a nice person with a big heart, says Maresca
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s meeting with Ipswich on Saturday, Maresca handed a lot of praise to Fernandez, who is often seen as the villain by many opposing supporters.
“He’s a nice person, he has a big heart, polite, professional. Sometimes the image from outside is completely different from the reality. He’s a top guy, and first of all, a very nice person,” the City manager said.
“[He has a] nice family, mum and dad, wife, kids - I know all of them, that’s why. No doubt about that, he’s a very good guy.”
Maresca was also asked about Fernandez's collision with referee Sven Jablonski during the PSG game, to which he added: "It's just a random moment, but it was a bit funny."
Will Maresca rest big guns during less demanding run of fixtures?
It has been quite the start for Maresca, who has won eight of his 10 games as Manchester City manager so far.
The Italian has conquered Manchester United at Old Trafford, Liverpool at Anfield, and while victory was out of reach at the Etihad Stadium against PSG on Wednesday, there were so many positives to take for the home side.
Given that City face the likes of Ipswich, AEK Athens, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion in the next few weeks, the consensus around Maresca resting his stars is prominent.
The 46-year-old could open the game with one of his strongest starting lineups, in the hope of securing an insurmountable lead early on, or he could take the opposite path and save his elite players to manage minutes and promote as much recovery amongst his group as possible.
The latter option could see 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi start, who has been a favourite amongst supporters since he arrived in east Manchester from LOSC Lille for £86 million.