"We Didn't Deserve to Lose" - Enzo Maresca Issues Positive Review of Man City Defeat to Aston Villa
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca appeared to have come away from Villa Park with a positive impression of his side's performance after a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.
After a stellar start to the brand new season, it was a visit to Villa Park that brought an end to Manchester City's all-winning run across the first seven Premier League matches of the 2026/27 campaign.
Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring by punishing a mistake from Marc Guehi, before overcoming Erling Haaland's headed equaliser by forcing a second error from a City player, this time Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Italian look destined to deny the Aston Villa striker a brace in the second-half when Jackson's effort from an Ibrahim Mbaye cross was directed straight towards the Italian, only for the ball to squirm under his body and into the back of the net.
Despite defeat, Manchester City remain top of the Premier League table ahead of reigning champions Arsenal on goal difference, and now face a double-header against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup fourth round and Premier League this week.
"We didn't deserve to lose", says Maresca
Speaking to TNT Sports after the contest at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, Enzo Maresca appeared to have taken away plenty of positives from his side's performance against Aston Villa.
"I think the performance overall was good. The amount of chances we created," said Maresca. The Italian continued, "Second-half I think we just conceded the transition for the goal, sometimes you have to also defend a little better or be a little more lucky just in that transition. But it's football, we learn, and we move on."
The Manchester City manager added, "I think we played most of the game in their side, their box. But you have to be clinical in that moment and for sure, you have to avoid mistakes like the two goals we conceded."
However, when looking at Aston Villa's match-winning goals either side of half-time, Enzo Maresca insisted that the two strikes were 'avoidable', with Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma at fault.
Maresca said, "Sometimes you have to be a little more lucky because overall we conceded just the two goals, two chances. But we also created many moments, many chances, and we learn and move on."
"I think we didn't deserve to lose, but... we lost," the Manchester City manager concluded.
Rotation expected across City's next two games
With Manchester City now returning to League Cup action on Wednesday night, Enzo Maresca will likely heavily rotate his side across the next two games, handing opportunities to players who have featured inconsistently over the last few weeks.
One certainty is the return of Geronimo Rulli to the goalkeeper role, whilst there could yet be a return for Matheus Nunes following his recent fitness issues, as well as Vitor Reis and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
After calls for the Moroccan international to start against Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime, Ayyoub Bouaddi should return to the City side in either of the games against Brighton this week.
Phil Foden, Ryan McAidoo, and Allan are also all expected to feature in the Manchester City teams this week, before the latest block of games ahead of the November international break concludes with away trips to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.