Manchester City coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged on Monday that several of his players, particularly those who participated in the recent World Cup, faced challenges in reaching optimal form early in the season. Speaking at Dragao Stadium ahead of a match, Maresca agreed with comments made earlier in the day by striker Erling Haaland regarding the physical and mental fatigue experienced by players after an extended international campaign.
Haaland, who has scored three goals in three Premier League matches so far, highlighted the difficulties of starting the season without the usual pre-season preparation. The Norwegian forward noted that following Norway’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals, he missed the typical build-up period due to the congested schedule. “The new season started and I didn’t even have a pre-season. I normally have a bit of pre-season but this time, just nothing,” Haaland said in a video posted to his YouTube channel.
He emphasized that while players can regain physical sharpness if they avoid injuries, maintaining mental readiness poses a significant challenge. “We need to have that eager feeling to go back but we don’t because there is no time to properly stay away from football because there are so many games and the season is longer,” Haaland added. He qualified his remarks by acknowledging the privilege of playing football year-round, but stressed the necessity of occasional breaks, a condition he had not experienced before this World Cup.
Maresca expressed sympathy for Haaland and other players balancing club and international commitments. “It’s not easy for Erling, it’s not easy for most of the players that continue to play for their international team,” said the coach. Maresca indicated that managing player rest involves strategic decisions, which might include missing a match or taking a brief period away from the team, depending on the timing and circumstances.
The Manchester City coach also highlighted the difficulty in maintaining focus and setting long-term expectations in a demanding season. “To be focused on the day by day makes it very complicated to think where we can be in February, March, April in terms of expectation,” he said. Maresca concluded by stressing the importance of consistent improvement, adding, “The most important thing is to see that we are improving game after game.”